Plaka Milos

The beautiful village of Plaka, we find it in the southwestern part of the fantastic Milos island about five kilometers from the port of Adamas.

A quiet village right on a hill of volcanic origin (like the whole island on the other hand), where the view sweeps across the bay and where you can admire one of the most beautiful sunsets in Milos.

The classic Greek country with a strong imprint of the Cyclades Islands, made of white stone houses with blue windows, a continuous up and down stairs through narrow paved and labyrinthine streets that at every corner offer a pleasant surprise for the eyes with colorful flowers that embellish the windows, souvenir shops where you can find the perfect gift for mom, some excellent taverns, and a beautiful square where you can sit, relax, admire the view and taste the local specialties.

Plaka, was born in the 18th century when the feared pirates mastered the Aegean Sea, and in order to defend themselves from continuous attacks, the inhabitants had to find a position that allowed them not only to defend themselves but also to sight them before their arrival to prepare for sieges. This is the reason for the small and tortuous mazes, indispensable to confuse the usurpers.

The country, however, has a long history before the marauders of the sea, Thucydides tells that in the thirteenth century BC the Dorians arrived, the Athenians instead conquered it in the fifth century BC putting it to sword and fire, killing most of the men and making them slaves women for allying themselves with historic Spartan enemies. Plaka and the island of Milos also participated in the famous battle of Salamis in 480 BC where the Greeks defeated the fleet of the fearsome and cruel King Xerxes. Later it fell under Macedonian domination, and then passed to the Romans. Then comes the period of the pirates who in the early 1700s pushed from the Mediterranean to the Aegean raiding all the Greek Islands including Milos which, however, despite the continuous devastation, thanks to the support of the other islands and the unity of the community has always succeeded not to succumb completely.

Do not miss the square right in the center of the village where a very good tavern called Archondoula (but there are also not many others in fact given the request it is better to book especially for dinner) will delight your taste buds with local delicacies and where you the arteries of the village wind between traditional ovens with aromas that will capture you as if by magic, small shops and alleys to be explored. Here it is only allowed to get there on foot, but do not worry before entering the center of Plaka there is a municipal parking lot where you can leave your vehicle. In addition to the spectacular sunset, from Plaka you can see the uninhabited island of Antimilos.

So here we are at the Archaeological Museum of Milos located right in the center of Plaka. Here you can find finds from the late Neolithic to the Byzantine era as well as the plaster copy of the statue par excellence The Venus de Milo (currently on display at the Louvre Museum in Paris). A rich collection of ancient art from the Cyclades Islands, and other evidence of the Bronze Age such as some finds from the site of Phylakopi. The Museum born in 1985 you will find it in a beautiful neoclassical style building of 1870. Below timetables and costs:

Summer: (April 15 - October 31, 2020)

Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, from 09:00 to 16:00

Friday, Saturday and Sunday from 08:30 to 22:00

Price € 2 adults € 1 children

Winter:(6 November - 31 March 2020)

Monday, Wednesday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday from 08:30 to 15:30

Price € 2 adults € 1 children

Panagia Thalassitra Church. This beautiful work is also located near the main square. Patroness of Sailors was erected in 1820 and later joined to the chapel of Panagia Elousa with building materials brought from the abandoned churches of the historic center, it is dedicated to the Virgin Mary. Inside it preserves icons by the local artist Emmanuel Skordilis, the coat of arms of the Dukes of Naxos and the Crispus family, a sacred icon of the Virgin dating back to the 15th century and a carved wooden epitaph from the 18th century.A spectacular stone bell tower completes the extraordinary church and which makes it one of the most important temples in Milos.

The Kastro. The castle (Kastro in Greek means castle) of the Venetian period (1204-1566), dating back to the thirteenth century, we find it right on the highest point of Plaka which, like a sentinel, watches over the whole bay and the island of Milos, offering a spectacular panorama. From here the sunset is something exceptional and compared for the extraordinary beauty to those that can be admired from the mythical island of Santorini which owes its fame in part to these shows that Mother Nature pays homage to us every day. You have to try to understand what we are saying!

Sand Museum. An unusual collection of sands from around the world. Calling it a Museum is perhaps a bit too much, it is more a picturesque place where you can find particular souvenirs such as the magnetic sand hourglasses found in Milos. The owner, a geologist who is not a native of the island but from Thessaloniki, has created this wonderful collection of sculptures made exclusively with sand that you can also buy and take home as a souvenir. Admission is free.

Each island and each country has its own specialties, could Plaka be missing? Obviously not, and in this regard we are to point out some products that you absolutely must try. For cheese lovers you can taste the Touloumotyri a goat cheese aged in the skin of the animal (touloumi), very similar to feta but with a sweeter taste because of the way it is aged. And again the tasty savory pies stuffed with cheese, pepper and mint, a specialty of Plaka, or the Karpouzopita a mouth-watering dessert made with watermelon, honey, walnuts, cinnamon and sesame, a real calorie bomb but how much taste satisfaction! Finally, we recommend you try the Pitarakia of fried dough pieces stuffed with aged cheese and onion.

Let's finish our description of Plaka with the nightlife. While during the day, the village seems almost deserted, only cats asleep in the sun and the inhabitants intent on cleaning or fixing something, in the evening it changes its face becoming one of the most popular places for an aperitif but above all for dinner. To end the evening during the summer, many popular festivals where you can savor the true spirit of Milos with traditional live music or with some concertino of local artists to stay up late maybe in front of an iced glass of ouzo.

Here this is Plaka, simple, ancient but with a unique charm and it is only for this reason that you should include it among the things to see in Milos.