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Mykonos
is world famous. It is no coincidence that this, the most cosmopolitan of
all Greek islands, attracts so many visitors from all over the globe,
including large numbers of artists and intellectuals. Here,
the steep mountains to be encountered in most of the Cyclades give way to
low, rocky hills which combine with superb beaches to make up the
landscape of the island.
Hora
The capital,
Hora, with its colorful harbor in which little fishing-boats nestle happily side
by side with luxury yachts, presents quite a different picture from the majority
of Aegean island towns. While it is usual for island villages to be built on
naturally amphitheatrical sites, Mykonos is spread out over a flat area and
conveys an impression of solid aesthetic cohesion.
Along the whitewashed streets stand brilliant white box-shaped houses with
stepped walls for sitting on, wooden doors and windows and brightly-colored
balconies. These are interspersed with small and impressive churches, pretty
little tavernas and shops selling souvenirs and other goods, and the overall
sense is of being inside a film set.
On the low Kastro hill is the complex of churches known collectively as Our Lady
, a superb arrangement of whitewashed masses created over the centuries and now
recognized as a national cultural monument.
Of particular historical and aesthetic interest are the medieval houses in this
district of the town, which stand like a wall above the sea protecting the west
side of Hora.
The Archaeological Museum of Hora contains finds from tombs on the nearby island
of Rhenia, sculptures, vases and figurines. The Folklore Museum brings together
a number of collections of furniture, icons, pieces of sculpture and folk
musical instruments. Mykonos is also the home of the Nautical Museum of the
Aegean, which has interest all of its own.
The countryside of Mykonos is a mixture of gray-green rocks ringed by prickly
pear plants and little fertile areas carpeted with wild flowers. Here and there
are tiny white-washed chapels and windmills.
Ano
Mera
Mykonos is a
busy island with all the amenities of a modern resort and with plenty to do - by
day or night - for those who want to have a lively time. Yet visitors fond of
more peaceful holidays will still find quiet corners in which to relax.
How
to get there
Useful
telephone numbers
Things
to buy
Local
specialties
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