Milos Island
Milos island is included in the archipelago of the Cyclades Islands and we can say that it is a real pearl in the middle of the Aegean.
In the southwest corner of its famous sisters, it has volcanic origins and presents itself with its white rocks, mountains, caves, spectacular stacks, mines, quarries and a sea of the bluest blue you can't get.
According to Greek mythology, it owes its name to its first inhabitant Milos. It is said that once upon a time there were two young Adonis and Milos who were fraternal friends and perhaps even beyond. When Adonis lost his life, Milos committed suicide in despair by hanging himself from an apple tree. The Goddess Aphrodite touched by this sad story, decided to transform Milos into the homonymous fruit and his wife into a dove.
Her fame owes it (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, digging in his field, noticed a small cave and, intrigued, entered finding half of the statue who decided to keep it by hiding it but, unfortunately, the fact ear of some Turkish officers who confiscated it. Thanks to a French naval officer after long and difficult negotiations, it was sold by the Ottomans to the Marquis of Rievere who participated in the mediation. To this day it is still kept in the Louvre even if its place would be the island of him.
The eastern part is the most characterized by the mountains and almost inaccessible. It can only be reached with a 4x4. With an 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 the sulfur, to the pink of the perlite, to the black of the obsidian up to the white of the kaolin dominant color of Milos which in some stretches it looks almost lunar. Here there is a particular endemic species and protected by the European Union due to the danger of extinction, the Macroviepro Schweizeri viper commonly called Milos viper, on the other hand it is found only here and in the Kimolos islands (in front of Milos to the east) and the Polyaigos island (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 unbridled, its atmosphere is instead calm and sophisticated therefore perfect for those seeking relaxation and an environment that is still uncontaminated and intact. There are no large resorts in Milos, the administration has always and always will oppose these solutions for tourism in order not to distort its beauty and offer visitors a different experience in close contact with traditions, customs and traditions .
Its beaches and its sea are unique, nowhere else will you be able to find coasts of this kind. The most famous is the unique and world-famous Sarakiniko beach. Someone gets angry when it is defined as a beach because it actually has little or no sand, its beauty is the candid 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 breathless waters in common.
To see the catacombs of the Christian period, unique in all of Greece once used as a refuge to hide from persecutors, or the Ancient Theater of the Roman period near the Klima village with perfect acoustics still functioning today for performances.
Plaka the capital in the north-east with its Archaeological Museum where the finds of the excavations of the island and a perfect copy of the Venus are kept, 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 Pollonia village to the north-east, a typical fishing village which in recent decades has been somewhat modernized with its excellent fresh fish taverns and a beach with magical colors. 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" in the past storages for boats with doors colored in different tones to identify the owner families who today they have almost all been transformed into beautiful lodgings 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 cliffs of Papafragas with its caves carved between the volcanic cliffs and its three channels where you can make spectacular dives and where from above you can enjoy a to capture in the perfect photo.
If you are a fan of geology then you cannot miss the old sulfur mines in Thiorichia in a south-easterly direction where getting there 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 meet only a few daredevils like you because the road is truly hell. However, one can repay the efforts with a nice swim in the beach which is located just below, generally almost deserted.
Finally Adamas point where you arrive by sea. Village of white houses that get lost in narrow and labyrinthine alleys full of souvenir shops, traditional taverns, cafes and clubs where you can stay late in the evening. From here you can rent a dinghy and go to discover the coast of Milos or lean on one of the many tourist agencies and organize an unmissable excursion to Kleftiko or to the islands of Polyegos, Glaronisia or the roofless cave of Sykia.
A small island but with many things to see and do!