 Cyclades Islands
The
Cyclades group comprises some hundreds of
islands and islets of which 33 are inhabited.
These form one of the most attractive groups of
islands to be found anywhere in the world, with
some 200 easily accessible beaches and countless
more secluded and more difficult to get to. As
they are small and closely grouped, the Cyclades
are ideal for an island-hopping holiday under
bright sunshine and azure waters.
The islands of the Cyclades,
with their whitewashed houses drenched by the Greek sun, are the country's
most beautiful ornaments, placed at the centre of the Aegean Sea. They
derive their name from being said to "circle" the island of Delos
birthplace of Apollo. Around Delos are situated three of the best-known
Greek islands, Mykonos, Syros and Paros, while further south stands the
stunning volcanic island of Santorini or Thira.
 The first inhabitants
according to Greek mythology settled here in
5000 BC, while Phoenicians colonists, who arrive
and settled here around 3000BC, signaled the
impressive Cycladic civilization. The famous
Cycladic marble status were sculptured during
the Early Cycladic period, 3000-2000 BC, when
people here lived in houses, built boats and
mined obsidian and exported it throughout the
Mediterranean. The Minoans occupied the islands
in the Middle Cycladic period, 2000-1500 BC, and
the Mycenaeans around the 15th century, at the
beginning of the Late Cycladic period. Cyclades
became very prosperous after the arrival of the
Romans in 190 BC. Their decline begun with the
arrival of the Franks, who gave the islands to
Venice. Then came the Turks, in 1453, which
virtually opened the doors of Cyclades to
pirates. In an effort to disorientate attackers,
the local architecture devised the labyrinthine
town-planning with narrow streets, which is the
main feature in most towns.
 The islands were revived
by the tourism boom that begun in 1970s, after
the world discovered their natural beauty,
with their dazzling white buildings and
bright-blue church domes, unusual landscapes,
mild and pleasant climate with long periods of
sunshine and strong winds to keep down the heat,
sandy beaches, caves, traditional customs and
architecture. Some of the Cyclades, such as
Mykonos, Santorini, Paros and Ios, have
vigorously developed into tourist industry;
others, such as Andros, Tinos, Kea, Kythnos,
Serifos and Sifnos, are visited less frequently
by foreigners but are favourites with local
holidaymakers. All of islands are easily
accessible by boat from Piraeus and Rafina,
while some can be reached by air, with both
domestic and charter flights from Europe. |
