Milos

Milos is included in the Cyclades archipelago and we can say that it is a real pearl in the middle of the Aegean.

In the south-west corner compared to its famous sisters, it has volcanic origins and presents itself with its white rocks, mountains, caves, scenic stacks, mines, quarries and a blue sea that couldn't be bluer.

According to Greek mythology, its name comes from its first inhabitant Milos. It is said that once upon a time there were two young men Adonis and Milos who were fraternal friends and perhaps even beyond. When Adonis lost his life, Milos committed suicide in desperation by hanging himself from an apple tree. The Goddess Aphrodite, touched by this sad story, decided to transform Milos into the fruit of the same name and his wife into a dove.

She owes her fame (the name will already give you a clue) to the legendary status of the Goddess Venus, one of the most wonderful representations of female beauty. It was discovered in 1820 by an inhabitant of Plaka, the current capital, Mr. Yorgos Kentrotas who, while digging in his field, noticed a small cave and, intrigued, entered and found half of the statue. He decided to keep it and hide it but, unfortunately, the matter came to light. ear of some Turkish officers who confiscated it. Thanks to a French naval officer, after long and difficult negotiations, it was handed over by the Ottomans to the Marquis of Rievere who participated in the mediation. To this day it is still preserved in the Louvre even if its place would be on his island.

The eastern part is the most characterized by mountains and almost inaccessible. It can only be reached with a 4x4. With its irregular shape, Milos resembles a horseshoe. Just eighteen kilometers long, it boasts one of the largest natural harbors in the entire Mediterranean and Aegean. Its geological morphology is present in every corner, thus transforming the landscape almost into a palette of colors ranging from the yellow of sulphur, to the pink of perlite, to the black of obsidian up to the white of kaolin, the dominant color of Milos which in some places it seems almost lunar. Here there is a particular endemic species protected by the European Union due to the danger of extinction, the Macroviepro Schweizeri viper commonly called the Milos Viper, on the other hand it is only found here and in the islands of Kimolos (opposite Milos to the east) and the island of Polyaigos (right from Kimolos).

You choose a holiday in Milos basically for the tranquility and natural beauty. It is not a noisy island or where the nightlife is wild, its atmosphere is instead calm and sophisticated, therefore perfect for those seeking relaxation and an environment that is still uncontaminated and intact. In Milos there are no large resorts, the administration has always and will always oppose these solutions for tourism precisely so as not to distort its beauty and offer visitors a different experience in close contact with traditions, habits and customs .

Its beaches and its sea are unique, nowhere else will you be able to find coastlines like this. The most famous is the unique and world-famous Sarakiniko beach. Some people get angry when it is called a beach because in reality it has little or no sand, its beauty is the pure white volcanic perlite rocks that plunge into the sea creating an incredible visual contrast. But there are many places where you can load up on vitamin D, all with a different peculiarity but with crystal clear, clean and breath-taking waters in common.

Worth seeing are the catacombs from the Christian period, unique in all of Greece and once used as a refuge to hide from persecutors, or the Ancient Theater from the Roman period near the village of Klima with perfect acoustics still functioning today for performances.

The capital Plaka to the north east with its Archaeological Museum where the finds from the island's excavations and a perfect copy of the Venus are preserved, and also the Kastro, the fortress of the Venetian period, the church dedicated to the Virgin Mary with a collection of stupendous icons and from which you can enjoy a crazy view.

To then move on to the village of Pollonia to the north east, a typical fishing village that has modernized a bit in recent decades with its excellent fresh fish taverns and a magically colored beach. In Klima, where the most famous statue in the world was found and where archaeological excavations are still underway, which owes its particularity to the famous "Syrmatas" which in the past were boat sheds with doors colored in different tones to identify the owner families who today they have almost all been transformed into beautiful accommodations where you can spend your holidays.

Then continue to Pachena, one of the quietest places in Milos, three kilometers from Pollonia where you will find the Papafragas cliffs with its caves carved between the volcanic cliffs and its three canals where you can take spectacular dives and where you can enjoy a panoramic view from above to immortalize in the perfect photo.

If you are an admirer of geology then you cannot miss the old sulfur mines in Thiorichia towards the south east where to get there it is a real adventure and essential to have either a quad or a jeep. Once a source of income for Milos, they were abandoned in 1956 and are a place of absolute peace where you will only meet a few daredevils like you because the road is truly hell. However, you can repay your efforts with a nice swim on the beach which is located directly below and is generally almost deserted.

Finally Adamas point where you arrive by sea. Village of white houses that are lost among narrow and labyrinthine alleys full of souvenir shops, traditional taverns, cafes and places where you can spend a late evening. From here you can rent a dinghy and go to discover the coast of Milos or rely on one of the many tourist agencies and organize an unmissable excursion to Kleftiko or to the islands of Polyegos, Glaronisia or to the roofless cave of Sykia.

An island of small size but with many things to see and do!

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