Athens: History & Highlights

About the destination: There are two proposed explanations for the origin of the name of the island. According to the first, Koufonisia was the ancient name of the gulf between Koufonisia and Glaronisi. The full name was "Koufos Limin", which means lee port, where ships can anchor. According to the second version, which is supported by Manesis, this name was chosen because of the large number of caves and sediments that are found on the island. Anthony Miliarakis, in contrast with these two theories, wrote in his book in 1920 that Pano Koufonisi was known as "Fakousa" and Kato Koufonisi as "Pino". According to archaeological findings, Koufonisia has been inhabited since prehistoric times. Excavations in Epano Mili brought to light evidence that dates back to the first years of Cycladic civilization. One of the most important findings from this period is a fryer-shaped vessel with a nine-ray star on it, exhibited in Naxos' museum. Excavations on the east shore brought to light remains dating to Hellenistic and Roman times.

About the destination: Amorgos es la isla più oriental del grupo de islas de las Cícladas y el grupo de islas vecinas del Dodecaneso en Grecia. Con 16 isolotti vicini, la isla de mayor calidad (por área) es la isla de Nikouria, que incluye la comunidad de Amorgos, que tiene un área de 126 346 kilómetros cuadrados (48 782 millas cuadradas) y una población de 1973 (censo de 2011). La isla apareció en la película de Luc Besson The Big Blue (1988), en la que se pueden ver Agia Anna y el monasterio de Panagia Hozoviotissa. La isla también apareció en la película Ariadni (2002) de Giorgos Kordelas. Amorgós tiene un clima mediterráneo de verano cálido con temperaturas suaves todo el año. El turismo está aumentando lentamente, aunque las características geográficas de la isla impiden el turismo de masas. Solo se puede acceder en barco. Los tres alojamientos turísticos principales se encuentran en Katapola, Aegiali y Chora. Las rutas de senderismo están relativamente bien mantenidas. Otras actividades incluyen el buceo, el buceo libre y visitar las playas de la isla (aunque este no es su principal atractivo, como otras islas griegas).

About the destination: Mykonos is a popular tourist destination in the Greek islands of the Cyclades group, situated in the middle of the Aegean Sea. In the 1960s, Mykonos became a bohemian mecca and is now one of the glitziest holiday resorts in the country that happily flaunts its sizzling style and reputation. This central Cyclade was for years the premier Mediterranean resort for gay travellers, though recently Mykonos has tried to reinvent itself for a more varied clientele, though nightlife is still very gay-friendly, it is a paradise for any reveller with loud and long nights. Chora or Mykonos town is the main town on the island. It is filled with narrow, winding streets, whitewashed buildings with blue trim, nice restaurants, clothing and jewellery shops, a fish market and a vegetable market. It is one of the most cosmopolitan and crowded towns of the Aegean. Besides Chora, there is only one other town on the island, Ano Mera. Ano Mera is quiter and less touristy. While you are here, visit the Monastery of Panagia Tourliani, a traditional Greek Orthodox Church which has a beautiful iconostas. The island is dry and barren, but there are some fine, sandy beaches, the two most well-known being Paradise and Super Paradise, but there are many other beaches you can seek out around the island. From the charming port, catch a boat out to the beaches or out to Delos, and you will be travelling from the present into the ancient past, from one set of myths to another.