Astypalea is one of the Dodecanese islands. It is actually a small but lovely typical Greek island washed in blue and white. It has only a few inhabitants, about 3,000, most of who deal with agriculture, fishing and tourism.
Tourism has been developed on the island over the last years only, however there are enough tourist facilities to offer you a comfortable holiday.
The history of Astypalea starts in the prehistoric times and was named after the wife of the sea-god Poseidon. It was particularly developed in the Hellenistic times thanks to the fishing activity of its inhabitants. |
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In the Roman times, the island was used by the pirates as a regular base of operations. Then it was conquered by many different races, such as the Venetians, the Turks, the Italians, until it was finally united to the Greek State in 1948.
The island of Astypalea has four small but picturesque villages: Chora, Analipsi (or Maltezana), Vathi and Livadia.
The most typical feature of Astypalea is the small or bigger churches that are spread all over the island. The most famous is the church of Panagia Portaitissa, all in white, with a beautiful wooden iconostasis and a big bell tower. |
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Life on Astypalea is rather quiet. Do not expect lots of wild clubs there that play loud music all night long. There is certainly some nightlife in Chora, but you will mostly find seaside coffee shops and traditional taverns.
The beaches are mostly short and sandy. Some of them are difficult to go but almost all give you the peace you may need. After all, the whole island gives this vibe of peace and tranquility.
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