Polyegos Kimolos

The spectacular Polyegos also called Polivos is found exactly between the Milos island and the Kimolos island from the latter to a nautical mile northeast. It is the largest uninhabited island in the whole Aegean and Mediterranean, and according to many, the most beautiful sea in Greece is found right here.

With an area of 18 square meters and an altitude of 370 meters above sea level, it is owned by the Greek Orthodox Church which leases the land to the Milos and Kimolos shepherds. Once it was also inhabited, in 1951 it had as many as 14 inhabitants but even earlier it seems there were 170. Nowadays, however, there is no trace of a human being but on the other hand it is part of the Natura 2000 project together with the Manolonissi rocky island and that of Agios Efstathios for its rare fauna and wild flora as well as idyllic beaches and a sea that will leave anyone, even the most experienced traveler, speechless. On the islet there is still a small church dedicated to the Virgin Mary which dates back to 1622 and is part of a now abandoned monastery. In recent years, however, the previous lighthouse has also been automated.

The importance of Polyegos is enormous both from a geological and ecological point of view as it hosts endemic species in danger of extinction such as the monk seal Monachus monachus, the endemic blue lizard viper, the viper Microvipera Schweizeri which is found only here, in Milos and in Kimolos, the Eleonore falcon, several typical plants that grow exclusively in this area and wild goats (Polyegos in Greek actually means many goats). The island is also rich in industrial minerals such as silver barite.

A southern coast is very similar to the southeast part of Milos with white rocky bands, rocks sticking out of the sea, hidden caves with red and yellow colors. To the south is the Fykiada bay with its wonderful beach where there is a ruined building that once belonged to the now abandoned kaolin mine. From here starts a path that leads to the deposit located in a sparkling valley surrounded by low shrubs. Heading up, once you get to the top, the view is creepy. The northern part, on the other hand, is full of impressive caves such as the Fanara Cave with its collapsed ceiling that lets in the sunlight, making the sea shine, a sort of twin of the Sikya cave in Milos, so to speak. Finally the Diamantospilia Cave so called for the crystalline quartz present in its rocks in a northerly direction with its high and imposing cliffs which can also accommodate a sailboat inside.