What to see in Greece

The Cyclades

You've probably heard a lot about Santorini and Mykonos, but Greece has many more islands. In fact, the Greek islands are made up of many small archipelagos all located in the Aegean Sea. The most famous of these are the Cyclades, which will delight you with their turquoise waters, volcanic rocks and white-walled villages.

What you can find in the Cyclades

Bear in mind that we are talking about 220 islands and that they are divided into nine prefectures. Many of their names will be familiar to you: Tinos, Santorini, Syros, Paros, Naxos, Mykonos, Milos, Kea-Kythnos and Andros.

If you're looking for the highest point in the archipelago, you'll find it on Naxos. This is Mount Zeus, 1,001 metres high.

The archipelago is home to more than 120,000 people, a number that increases considerably during the holiday season. Two million people visit Santorini every year.

Why are they called the Cyclades? The legend of Delos

All the islands of the archipelago form a large circle around the island of Delos. It is said that Delos is the place where Apollo was born once his father, Poseidon, the God of the Sea, had shaped the archipelago. How did he do it? He did it the way the gods do things: he razed the mountain peaks of Greece with his trident.

In Delos you will find charming beaches in places where you would not expect to find them, but also points of interest such as the Terrace of the Lions, one of the houses where the Empress Cleopatra spent her summers and three different temples dedicated to Apollo, the Sun God. All three have been declared UNESCO heritage sites.

A little beyond Santorini and Mykonos

The snapshots of Little Venice in Mykonos and donkey rides on the steep slopes of Santorini are two of the most common images of these islands. But there's so much more to see in the Cyclades.

Syros will surprise you with its Acropolis. Oia will take your breath away with its sunsets

What to see in the Cyclades, island by island

Naxos, the island of Zeus

Mount Zeus is on Naxos, but before it emerged there were some caves in the same place from which the god himself ascended to occupy his Olympic throne.

Naxos is the largest island in the archipelago and they say that many of the visitors who come here decide to settle. It really is that beautiful.

In fact, Naxos is very close to Santorini, but has managed to preserve its traditional character thanks to its small port, which cannot accommodate the large cruise ships that ply the Mediterranean. If you want to know what to see in the Cyclades Islands, Naxos is a good place to start, as it has everything the other islands will give you:

Beautiful white sandy beaches, whitewashed villages, the beauty of barely explored landscapes, good food and a substantial helping of history. Moreover, Naxos is one of the cheapest islands in the archipelago.

Paros: for the whole family

Paros combines all the attractions of the Cyclades and is therefore perfect both for a romantic getaway and a family vacation.

Paros provided much of the white marble used to build Greece's greatest monuments, making it a prosperous island. You however are more likely to appreciate its blue waters or the more than 100 km of beaches around its shoreline.

If you're looking for something to see in the Cyclades, but also a little hospitality, the islanders of Paros won't let you down.

The port of Parikia, the gateway to the island, is simply magical, with its white houses and their blue windows. The Castro or castle district, located at the highest point, offers spectacular views. You'll get the feeling that summer never ends. Just as the succession of countless churches of Byzantine origin and temples dedicated to the Olympic gods seems endless.

If you have to pick one beach, go for Chrissi Akti.

What to see in the Cyclades: the island of Syros

Syros is an island with an arid, mountainous appearance in the north, but is fertile and flat in the south. Its coast is full of coves and bays and has spectacular beaches. But these aren't its biggest attraction. Instead, let yourself be seduced by the stately character of Ermupoli, capital of Syros and of the entire archipelago.

Here you will find neoclassical buildings and traditional Greek style houses. If you are visiting the Greek islands instead of Milan, the theatre of Apollo in Ermoupoli is a smaller copy of the great Milanese theatre.

Walk through the seafaring district of Vaporia and climb the hill of St. George to see the medieval Venetian city, where the Christian church of St. George is located.

There's a lot more to see in the Cyclades, but it's best to check it out for yourself. Travel with us to this Greek archipelago.