Milos Plaka

General information

Plaka Village Milos: Plaka is the capital town of Milos. It is located north of the gulf of Milos and it covers the sides of a hill, bordering with the villages of Plakes, Triovasalos, Pera Triovasalos and Tripiti.

Plaka is one of the most picturesque places to visit on the island, with a traditional Cycladic style of architecture.
Its narrow alleys are full of whitewashed houses with brightly painted windows and balconies that are decorated with bougainvillea flowers.
It is divided into the Old Town (Venetian Castle) and the modern part of the town.
In this area, you will discover restaurants, cafes, bars and shops, as well as charming churches and a few museums.
From Plaka, one can enjoy a magnificent view of the Gulf of Milos and with such a location, it is no surprise that the town has become famous for its sunset views.

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History

The first settlement in this area dated back to the 13th century. However, Plaka in its current form started coming to life during the early 19th century, after the destruction of the ancient Town. Plaka began to develop when the increasing number of its inhabitants could not fit within the walls of the Castle, in the old part of the town.
For the construction of the modern part of the village, the new settlers used materials from the ancient houses and the ruined ancient Town.
"Plaka" translates into flat stone and the town was named like this since the piece of land it was built on was flat.

Things to do

While visiting Plaka, you just can't miss the Old Town. The old part of the town can be found within the remnants of castle walls of a Venetian defensive fortress that dates to the 13th century. Hikes to the Castle (Kastro) are very popular at sunset time, since the castle is considered the best viewpoint in Plaka. The modern part of Plaka was constructed outside the castle walls.

The local churches are also worth a visit. Among them, you will find Panagia Korfiatisa Church which is one of the most important landmarks in Plaka.
In addition, on the way to the castle you will easily spot Panagia Thalassitra thanks to its signature belltower. This church dates back to 1839.
Another ecclesistical monument is Panagia Skiniotissa Church, which is also known as Mesa Panagia. Located in the old Town, it was destroyed during WW2 and rebuilt in 1944.

As the capital of the island, Plaka houses various cultural institutions. The biggest one is the Archeological Museum which exhibits authentic findings from various historic periods, as well as a replica of the famous Venus de Milo statue which was discovered in the area of Klima village and is currently housed in the Louvre Museum.
The Town also has a Folklore Museum, where you will discover every-day life objects of cultural significance that date as far back as the 17th century.
Additionally, the Sand Museum of Plaka is great for geology enthusiasts, as it houses colorful sand samples from various beaches of Milos, as well as beaches from other countries and a few artifacts made of sand.
Lastly, the small War Museum can also be found in this area. The museum is underground, housed in an old bunker and former German hospital that dates back to WW2. Its exhibition includes war-related objects such as photos and uniforms from both WW1 and WW2.

During your visit to Plaka, it is a great ideal to visit one of the local cafes and restaurants. Many cute boutique shops and gift shops can also be found there, especially in the Old Town area.
Trying the local delicacies and buying some souvenirs is a must!