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Sightseeing and monuments
 The whole of the Cyclades is one vast tourist attraction, offering
memorable scenes in its every little corner. That said, we could start
describing a few of the conventional sights from Ermoupolis (city of Hermes)
in the island of Syros. Near the waterfront of this 19th century commercial
and naval centre, is the impressive Miaoulis Square. Adorned with statue of
the Greek hero of the war of independence, after which it is named and a
bandstand, it acquires a cosmopolitan air once evening falls. To the west
side of the town hall, which dominates the square, is the Syros
Archaeological Museum, housing significant exhibits from other Cycladic
isles, courtesy of being the capital of Cyclades.
 The island of Mykonos
lacks archeological or historical sites, but Mykonos Town (Hora) offers
plenty by way of compensation. A row of houses known as "Little Venice",
with their multicolored wooden balconies hanging over the sea, provide one
of the town's picture-postcard views. The town has an Archeological Museum,
hosting finds from the islet of Rinia, the burial grounds of Delos. The
beautiful Windmill Museum, a Maritime Museum and a Folklore Museum, all
contribute in presenting the various aspects of life and culture in Mykonos
during the past few centuries. From Mykonos, it is easy to explore the
nearby sacred island of Delos, with excursion boats running day trips to
this, today uninhabited, island.
 South of Mykonos island, the port-town
Parikia offers the main attractions of Paros. The town has a remarkable
architectural monument: the 6th century AD cathedral church of "Ekatontapylliani"
(meaning Our Lady of 100 doors) for the building is supposed to have
had as many. Tradition claims that the architect of the church was Isidoros
of Miletus, one of the architects responsible for the construction of the
wondrous Agia Sofia in Constantinople. The oldest part of the church is
built on Roman ruins. Much of them have been uncovered and displayed along
with other exhibits, in the town's Archaeological Museum, which is situated
behind the church.
 In its own right a unique destination, Santorini is a
pole of attraction for tourists, historians, geologists, archaeologists, and
people who wish to witness one of our planet's most significant geological
phenomena - but still a rare natural beauty with one of the prettiest
sunsets in the Mediterranean, especially from the town of Oia. Striking Oia
is also famous for its passageways, which get crowded in the evenings, and
has several commercial galleries, as well as a maritime museum. The capital,
Fira, is built on the edge of the volcano caldera and offers spectacular
views of the cliffs with their multicolored strata of lava and pumice. In
addition to Fira and Oia, there are three major sights the Minoan town of
Akrotiri, the Hellenistic town, known as ancient Thira and the caldera
Volcano Islands, the land that is still being created by the volcanic
activity.
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