| Introducing the Island of |
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What to do here ... |
TOUR INCLUDES:
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9 days/8 nights Per person in double: $1,799 Plus Airfare from your home City |
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Astipalea (alias Astropalia) is the most western and the most remote island of the Dodecanese. The island's surface area is 97 sq. km while the coasts are 110 km long. Astipalea is divided into two parts, Messa Nissi and Oxo Nissi, which are joined by a narrow piece of land 100 m. wide. Most of the 1,000 inhabitants of Astipalea who live here and, in spite of their solitude, are very hospitable. The locals, mostly fishermen, are simply, pleasant and polite people who never hesitate to invite foreigners to the island's feasts. The island is mountainous -its highest peak being Vardia (482 m.), while on the small plain grow fruit trees, garden products and vegetables, as well as many walnut trees, watered by the local springs. Astipalea, or Astipalia town, is the island's capital and lies on its southeast side. It is built on a hillside. Its picturesque houses spread all along the waterfront, with the imposing castle on the top of the hill. The nicely decorated facades of the houses, are painted blue and white. The nine windmills are the town's characteristic feature, and they complement its beauty. In Astipalea, there is a small Archaeological Collection housed in "Narkisseios Municipal Library". One should visit the castle on the top of the hill where the Church of Panagia Portaitissa also stands, the monasteries of Agios Ioannis and Agia Livia and the Castle of St John, also stands: built by Quirini a Venetian family that ruled Astypalaia between 1207 and 1522.
In Mythology ... According to one legend, Astipalea was named after the wife of Neptune. Another legend claims that the island was named after the sister of Europe (the mother of King Minos). The island was called "Ichthioessa" in ancient times, because it was a significant fishing land (fish:ichthis), while it was also called the Altar of the Gods, as it was fertile, with a lot of flowers. The Venetians called the island "Stambalia". The first inhabitants of the island were Kares, while the Cretans later migrated here. From a sign and the dialect from ancient inhabitants, one concludes that emigrants from Argolida lived here, while other signs indicate that the island thrived on sailing. Astipalea was the homeland of the famous athlete, Kleomedes, who, according to myth, defeated an athlete called Eccos in wrestling in the first Olympian championship, by killing him with a single punch. The judges took away his Olympic title and forced Kleomedes to pay a fine, since they did not consider the death of his opponent legal. Kleomedes, bitter, returned to Astipalea, and demolished the column of a school, thus causing the death of 60 students. The locals persecuted him by throwing stones, and Kleomedes sought refuge in the Temple of Athena and locked himself in a case. When people of Astipalea opened the case, they discovered it was empty and Pythia told them that Kleomedes was no longer mortal and was to be honoured as a hero. Excursions
(Trekking):
When winds are too strong in Astypalaia Town, ferries dock in Vathi. Vathi has a supurb harbour and is a peaceful fishing village.
Livadi is a beautiful picturesque settlement with white traditional houses built on the edge of a small bay.
The village of Livadi is situated 3 km south of town, built in a fertile valley full of gardens. The houses are built on picturesque streets, are clean, with well-preserved gardens which maintain many elements of traditional architecture. From Livadi, one should visit the Negri Cave by boat.
The village of Analipsi was named after the chapel of Analipsi, built at the end of the village. Near the village stretches the beautiful beach of Maltezana. Analipsi is also well known as Maltezana after Maltese pirates. It is the second largest settlement in Astypalaia, a fishing harbor, with a few beaches accessible around the bay, and it is surrounded by olive groves. There are some well preserved remains of Roman Baths with zodiac floor mosaics.
Car rental available, unlimited kilometers.
A fun morning for all, after breakfast, a stroll through the center square with its 9 windmills, visit the imposing Venetian Castle crowning the town of Astipalea with a stop at the Church of Panagia Portaitisa.
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Swimming areas |
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| Livadi beach | A beautiful, pebbled and sandy beach, 3 km south of town, surrounded by hiking areas and 3 restaurants to choose from. |
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| Marmari beach | A picturesque beach situated 5 km north of Hora. |
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| Stavros beach | Stavros is a small seaside settlement with a lovely sandy beach, 9 km north of town. |
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| Steno bay | A small, sandy beach situated on the narrowest point of the island, 8 km north of the capital. |
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| Analipsis (Maltezana) | Fishing harbor, with a few beaches accessible all around the bay. |
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| Tzanaki beach | Nice pebble (nudist) beach. |
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| Agios Kostandinos | Is a lovely cove with nice beaches, surrounded by orchards. |
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Astipalea offers a wide range of activities for recreation and entertainment, for visitors of all tastes and means. This especially goes for the nightlife since there are a few discos, restaurants, taverns, bars etc. What is surely worth mentioning is a kind of local tavern specializing in the traditional Island music and the native folk dancing.
The recent tourist growth of Astipalea has affected the nightlife of the island. Today, Astipalea has bars and clubs, like the cosmopolitan disco "Ostria". In Hora, there is a series of bars, such as "Faros", "Panorama", "Kouros", "La Louna", "Pondos", "Magani", "Laou-Laou", "Kastro", "Artemis" and "Alothi".
Astipalea is a remote island, thus not attracting swarms of tourists. Nevertheless, every visitor here is invited to the local feasts and splendid celebrations. The most significant feast of the island takes place on August 15, at the church of Panagia Portaitissa, where the three-day celebration is organized with municipal competition, the "Koukania" and the feeding of yogurt, during which the locals, blind-fold and feed each other with yogurt. The island's cultural council, with the co-operation of local groups, organizes several events, including theatrical and musical nights, as well as dances with the traditional costumes of Astipalea.
FOOD
In Astipalea, at Hora, there are many coffee shops where one can have breakfast or lunch, such as "Sirocos", "Phoenix", "Daria" and "Igloo", serving coffee and juice and offering great view of the picturesque Hora and the Venetian Castle. For the local traditional sweets, one must visit "Eva's pastry shop". The island's restaurants and tavernas serve fresh fish and all kinds of seafood, as well as local cuisine. One must taste the famous "pougia", a strange tasty combination of cheese-pie made of "kopanisti" with honey "xerotigana", the local rabbit and "arandista", lentils with vinegar and paste. The island has many nice tavernas at Pera Gialos, such as "Babis", "Vaggelis", "Carlos", "Akrogiali", "Psarros", the "Taverna of Kiki", "Vicky", "Organakis" and "Galini". In Hora, one can have fresh fish at "Astroulakis", "Dionissos" and "Synandissi". A stroll through Livadi could end with dinner at "Maganas", "Gerami Tsaoussi", "Thomas", "Stefanida", "Fiorevantes" and "Ippokambos". At Maltezana, one should eat at "Ovelix" and at "Irini".
SPORTS
The beautiful little coves of Astipalea draw wind surfing and water-sports lovers. At the popular beach, Livadia, one can rent canoes and paddle boats. Although in recent years the fish catch has been diminishing, one can still catch black fish, rock fish, scorpion fish, bogues, lobsters in Analipsis and sea breams. Also, one can go hare and partridge hunting, taking into account their restrictive laws. So get prepared for swimming, mountain climbing (also organized expeditions), water - skiing, snorkeling, fishing, hunting, car rental and motorcycles available.
SHOPPING
Expect to come across a variety of Astipalean goods provoking you browsing the shops. Authentic island antiques, handicrafts, local honey, wines, souvenirs, are just some of the memorable merchandise. The island is known for cheese products especially the cheese "Kopanisti". One can buy cheap liquor and imported goods from other islands.
At sunset time the town of Astipalea starts sizzling as a great variety of entertainment activities grows fast until very early in the morning.
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You are
invited to discover for your self. |
