Location
Greece
is a state of the Southeastern Europe and it is situated at the
southest end of the Balkan Peninsula.
When you visit Greece, you are on a crossroads of civilizations and
colors, you can feel the power of history and the warmth of the
southest end of Europe and you can discover the evolutionary course
of the thought, the influence and the experience.
You are in a country, which has a rich history, in a small country,
which however is huge in differetiality. You are in landscapes which
have been imprinted on thousands of postcards; however they remain
incredibly vivid and untouched. You are in a country, where the
alternation of images does not happen in your imagination, but in
reality.
The
islands
form the main morphologic characteristic of the Greek space and a
constituent part of the civilization and the tradition of the
country. The Greek state includes 6.000 islands and islets, which
are dotted in the Aegean and the Ionian Seas, which is a unique
phenomenon in the European continent, only 227 of which are
inhabited.
Most of the islands are in the Aegean Sea and they are divided in
seven complexes (from the north to the south):
THE ISLANDS
OF THE NORTHEAST AEGEAN:
Agios Efstratios, Thassos, Icaria, Lesvos, Limnos, Oinousses, Samos,
Samothrace, Chios, Psara.
SPORADES:
Alonissos, Skiathos, Scopelos, Skyros
EUBOEA
THE ISLANDS OF THE GULF OF ARGOSARONICOS:
Agistri, Aegina, Poros, Salamina, Spetses, Hydra and the coastal
area of Methana. 
CYCLADES:
It is a complex of 56 islands the most important of which are the
following: Amorgos, Anafi, Andros, Antiparos, Dilos, Ios, Tzia,
Kimolos, Kithnos, Milos, Myconos, Naxos, Paros, Santorini, Serifos,
Sikinos, Sifnos, Syros, Tinos, Folegandros, and the "Small
Cyclades", which consist of Donoussa, Heraclia, Koufonisia and
Shinoussa.
DODECANESE:
Astypalea, Kalymnos, Kartpathos, Kassos, Kastelorizo, Kos, Lipsi,
Leros, Nisyros, Patmos, Rhodes, Symi, Tilos, Chalki.
CRETE
The Cyclades islands
are the most famous islands of Greece. Their pictures have been all
over the world. Their characteristic is the simple and plain beauty
of their landscapes, which fascinates every traveler. Their colors
are absolutely Greek. The white color of the settlements and the
blue of the Aegean, create a heaven scenery on earth!
The holydays in Cyclades
are the realization of the summer dream of thousands of tourists
every year. In the fabulous beaches and the clean waters of the
Aegean Sea, with the sun shining over the magic islands, life seems
fairy-like!
Sifnos:
Snowy-white houses with traditional ceramic chimneys and small
churches with blue domes, built on green hills which lead to sandy
beaches. It is one of the most beautiful islands of the Aegean and
in spite of being placed among the popular tourist destinations, it
still maintains its authenticity.
The capital of Sifnos since 1836 is
Apollonia, which is also called Stavri and spreads amphitheatrically along three hills in the center
of Sifnos, while in the west, there is its picturesque port, Kamares.
The nobility of Sifnos is the result of its big cultural and
intellectual tradition. Sifnos has born many excellent poets,
writers, folklore scientists, journalists, tutors and jurists, while
the Cycladic architecture has known its best expression on this
island of the Aegean Sea.
In Sifnos you shall see places,
such as the noble Artemonas, the fascinating
Vathi, the beautiful
Faros, the magic
Chrissopigi, the cosmopolitan
Platis Gialos, the
picturesque Cheronissos and
Kastro, where the picturesqueness and
the simplicity of life are beyond any imagination. You shall be
enthusiastic over the arrangement of the mansions and the simple
houses, with the paved courtyards and the arches. The invariable
beauty of the entire island!
Sifnos is the homeland of the great chef
Nikos Tselemendes, and its
cuisine is delicious, with traditional dishes! As for its pastry
making, all you have to do is take a walk in its traditional
bakeries and workshops and discover for yourself its authentic
tastes!
Sifnos is not known only for its natural beauty but it is also
famous in the whole world for its pottery!
The entire island is full of narrow paths, which wait for the
aspiring travelers to enjoy them. Many of these paths, on the
perimeter of the island, lead to many magic little
bays and to
beautiful retreats for the lovers of adventure or for those who
desire to know the island inch by inch. Many bays are accessible
only by boats or by private crafts.
When you leave the island it is certain that:
«The
spell of Sifnos shall turn out to be abolishing!
And it shall call you to visit it over and over again»! |