Anafi History

Anafi History, Greece: Information about the history of Anafi, Cyclades

Anafi is a small island in Cyclades, located about 12n.m to the east of Santorini.

According to mythology, Anafi emerged from the Aegean Sea when the Argonauts prayed to Apollo, the god of music and light, to save them from the angry sea.
That is why the Argonauts built a temple dedicated to this god, whose worship was widespread on the island.

Remains of this temple can still be found near the Monastery of Panagia Kalamiotissa. It is said

In 1207 AD, Anafi came under Frankish rules. The Castle of Krispi built on the top of the hill of Chora was characteristic of this period, as it used to be the shelter of the inhabitants against pirates and enemies.

That is why most of the inhabitants in the 1830s-1940s moved to the capital and settled in the district of Plaka, right in the centre of Athens.

Their new neighbourhood was named Anafiotika and today it is the loveliest and most picturesque area of Plaka.

Today, Anafi bases its economy mostly in fishing, agriculture and tourism. Only in the last years has tourism been developed in Anafi and the tourists that go there are looking for extreme peace and quiet, as the tourist

that Anafi was first occupied by the Phoenicians and later by the Dorians. Following them, in the 5th century B.C., it was conquered by Athens.

During the Middle Ages, it became part of the duchy of Naxos and, later on, the stronghold of several Venetian royal families.

In the 14th century, the Ottomans took control over the island, which established a severe regime.

In 1537, the pirate Chaìredin Varvarosa came and ransacked the island, selling all the male inhabitants as slaves and slaughtering the women and children.

The island was liberated by the Turkish occupation in 1830, along with the other Cyclades islands.

Since then, its economy is poor due to its small size and few inhabitants.

amenities on the island are few.

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