Page 182 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Greek Islands

19 20
Lipsí Astypálea
Λειψοί Αστυπάλαια
g Lipsí town n Town hall, ~ 11 km (7 miles) E of
Lipsí ∑ lipsi-island.com Astypálaia town g
@ Astypálaia town n Near
Only 10 sq km (4 sq miles) Kástro, Astypálaia town;
long, Lipsí is a magical island
EXPERIENCE The Dodecanese fully painted village houses. It fortified maze of the old
astypalaia.gr
of green hills dotted with blue
and white chapels, and colour­
With its dazzling white
is one of many islands claim­
capital, Hóra, and its scenic
coastline, the island of
ing to be the place in legend
Astypálea is charming. The
where the nymph Kalypso
westernmost spot in the
beguiled Odysseus, keeping
Dodecanese, it is a remote
him from his wife Penelope
for seven years. Officially
island with high cliffs and a
owned by the monastery at
Pátmos since Byzantine times,
coves and sandy bays along
Lipsí is a haven for traditional
the coast, which was once the
Greek island life, producing hilly interior. There are many
lair of Maltese pirates. A
some good local wines and backwater in Classical times,
cheeses. It has excel lent Astypálea flourished in the
beaches, and is popular for Middle Ages from 1207 to
day excursions from Pátmos 1537, under the rule of the and cornfields. It has a long
and Léros. Venetian Quirini family. beach. From Livádi a dirt track
The main settlement of Astypálea town, the island’s leads west to remote but
Lipsí town is wrapped around capital, grew up around the gorgeous Kaminákia cove,
the harbour, where the main island’s original centre, Hóra, with two tavernas and
attraction is the blue­domed which still forms the maze­like protection from most winds.
church of Agios Ioánnis. Inside, upper town. Equally well­ North of Astypálea town,
the unique icon of the Panagía preserved is the splendid on the narrow land bridge
is known for the lilies that Venetian kástro of the Quirini between the two sides of the
miraculously bloom within the family, on the site of the island, lies Maltezána (also
frame on 23 August, the date ancient acropolis. Houses known as Análipsi), named
of the Virgin’s reception into were built into the kástro’s after the marauding pirates
paradise in Orthodox belief, walls for protection, and the who once frequented it.On
and when the island’s main Quirini coat of arms can still the northeastern peninsula is
religious festival is held. In the be seen on the fortification’s the “lost lagoon”, a deep inlet
town hall, on the main square, gateway. Within its walls are at the hamlet of Vathý.
the interesting Eccle siastical two churches: the silver­
and Folklore Museum domed, 14th­century Panagía
features an odd collection of Portaïtissa (Madonna of the 21
finds, from neatly labelled Castle Gates), and the 14th­
bottles of holy water to century Agios Geórgios (St Tílos
traditional costumes. These George), built on the site of an Τήλος
sights are all sign posted from ancient temple.
the harbour. Livádi, the main resort, lies g @ Livádia n Megálo
There are good, sandy west of Astypálea town in a Chorió; tilos.gr
beaches easily walkable from fertile valley with citrus groves Remote Tílos is a tranquil
town at Liendoú and Kámbos, island, more known for its
as well as informal taxi good walking and bird­
services to the more distant watching than its beaches.
bays and beaches of Platýs 600 BC Away from the barren
Gialós, Tourkómnima and the beaches, Tílos has a lush
string of beautiful sandy hinter land, with farms
coves at Katsadiás. The year soldiers growing everything from
were caught in a citrus to almonds. Its hills are
Ecclesiastical and Folklore volanic eruption at scattered with chapels and
Museum Agios Antónis ruins of castles left by the
⌂ Main square # May–Sep: and petrified. Knights of St John, who ruled
9am–2pm daily here from 1309 until 1522.
182
182-183_EW_Greek_Islands.indd 182 28/11/2018 12:55

EW Must-see / Catalogue template v1.1 – 18th May 2018
Fonts: Aptifer Sans LT Pro, Posterama Text, Soho Gothic
Pro, Soho Pro, ITC Caslon 224