Page 219 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Greek Islands

spectacular, divided into the
fortified kástro quarter and POLITICAL EXILES
Did You Know? main village surrounding it. ON FOLÉGANDROS
AND AMORGÓS
The kástro, built in the 13th
century by Marco Sanudo,
Kímisi tis Theotókou These remote islands
was built using stones Duke of Náxos, is reached have long been used
from the ancient through an arcade. Within its for political exile. The
temple of Artemis. maze of crazy-paved alleys Romans first selected
full of geraniums are two- isolated Folégandros
storey cube houses with for this purpose. The
brightly painted wooden most famous exile on
balconies and white steps up. Amorgós (p220) was
walk to the east is the busy It is rimmed with tall stone George Mylonas,
resort of Platýs Gialós, with houses backing onto the sea, Minister of Education in
its long sandy beach. This is forming a strong hold along the government before
also connected by bus to the ridge of the cliff. Village 1967. He escaped from
Apollonía and Kamáres. life here centres on four the island by speedboat
squares with craft shops, lively in 1969, telling the story
Museum of Popular Arts tavernas and bars. The stair- in his memoir Escape
and Folklore path from the central bus stop from Amorgós.
" ⌂ Platía Iróön § 22840 leads to the church of Kímisi
33730 # Jun–Sep: 7am– tis Theotókou (Assumption
11pm daily of the Virgin Mary), which is a string of farming hamlets
dominates the village. It was on either side of the road,
Archaeological Museum built after a silver icon was surrounded by terraced fields.
⌂ Kástro § 22840 31022 miraculously saved by a villager There are wonderful sunset
# Apr–Oct: 8am–3pm Tue– from medi eval pirates who views here and on a clear day
Sun (limited in winter) drowned in a storm. you may be able to see Crete
¢ Main public hols Ferries dock at Karavostási in the distance.
on the east coast, a tiny The excellent Ecomuseum
harbour with a tree-fringed presents the way of life in a
7 pebble beach, restaurants, rural homestead in days gone
hotels and rooms. There is a
by. Displays include farming
Folégandros bus to Hóra, and Livádi beach implements, grape and oil
Φολέγανδρος is a short walk from the port. presses, a threshing floor and
In season there are excursions reconstructions of traditional
g @ Karavostási n Hóra; available to the western peasant life. On 27 July a
www.folegandros.gr
beaches at Angáli, Ágios major local festival is held
Bleak and arid, Folégandros is Nikólaos and Latináki, as well here for Ágios Pandelímon.
one of the smallest inhabited as to the island’s most popular From Áno Meriá steep paths
islands in the Cyclades and, sight, the Chrysospiliá or weave down to the remote
with its towns perched on Golden Cave. Named after the beaches at Ágios Geórgios
vertiginous cliffs, aptly takes golden shade of its stalactites bay and Livadáki, which is
its name from the Phoenician and stalagmites, the grotto wildly beautiful.
for “rocky”. This remote island lies just above sea level in
was often used as a place of the northeasterly cliffs. Ecomuseum
exile, and suffered from the Áno Meriá, 5 km (3 miles) to ⌂ Áno Meriá § 22860 41370
threat of pirate attack. the west of Folégandros town, # Jun–Sep: 5–8pm daily
Popular with photographers
and artists, Folégandros can
be busy in peak season. It’s
also a good place for walkers,
offering a wild beauty and
unspoiled beaches.
Folégandros town, or Hóra,
perched 300 m (985 ft) above
the sea to avoid pirates, is

Taverna next to a pretty
white church in Karavostási
harbour, Folégandros

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