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Milos Island
Situated
in the south western corner of the Cyclades, most
of Milos' 161 square kilometres are parched,
multi-hued, volcanic rock - a geologist's dream.
The shoreline is tortured by steep cliffs, sea
caves, subsurface rocks and small islands.
Minerals and ores are in abundance, their
treasures mined in outlying areas and scarring the
barren landscape. Villages cling to slopes or
nestle at the water's edge in sandy coves. In
short, a healthy local economy, low-key tourism
and a landscape more akin to the moon than mother
earth make for a rather unique Greek Island
holiday.
The main
harbour area of Adamas and the sleepy fishing village of
Apollonia are the two centres where our accommodation is
located. Rising on a gentle hillock, Adamas has excellent
tavernas and cafes with good transport links to the most
superb beaches on the south coast. Apollonia's quaint little
harbour lies adjacent to a superb tree-fringed, sandy bay. A
handful of local shops and tavernas are the limit to any
tourist development so sun, sea, sand and good food are the
order of the day although are bus links with Adamas.
History:
Milos dominates, due to its natural position, the sea of the
Cyclades. Its shape is petal-like and it forms to the
northwest the largest natural port of the Mediterranean, and
is one of the safest ports for the anchorage of both small
boats and large ships. The most possible explanation of this
geological peculiarity is that probably the port itself used
to be the crater of a great volcano that sank during its
explosion like the one of Santorini. It is mostly a volcanic
island. The volcano Fyriplakas to the south of the island has
a crater 1.700m in diameter and 30 m in height. The volcanic
period in Milos should have had lasted for millions of years.
That's why
one may still easily come to the conclusion that the various
fossils are the results of this activity. Another result of
the volcanic activity are the thermal springs, some of which
are considered to possess healing abilities, The island also
has a rich underground which is a great source of wealth for
Milos. Plaster, salt, caoline, betonite, perlite and the
fabled obsidian, volcanic rock, very tough black in color that
is used since the ancient times for the making of tools etc.
Legend
reports it that Milos was the name of the first emigrant who
was sent by the goddess Venus to the island. The Phoenicians
were the first inhabitants. They was affected with their
art, the inhabitants, who developed themselves into wonderful
potters, whose artwork you may admire in the Museum of Milos
and the Archaeological Museum Of Athens. As a member of the
Athenian Alliance, Milos participates to the naval battle of
Salamis and resists the Persians. Later in, the alliance with
the Spartans against the Athenians, cost them dearly, after
winning the Peloponnesian war, the Athenians, killed and
the men and sold the women and children to the slave market.
In the
4th century the inhabitants of Milos embrace Christianism and
the monuments of that period are the catacombs and the old
christian baptismal places that lie interspersed along the
island. In the years of the Turkish domination, the
inhabitants of Milos had been able to define from among
themselves their ruler. They participated in the revolution of
1821.
Milos
continues to affect the modern history of Greece. lt's
important to say here that in the island the godess Venus was
worshipped in a special manner. One of the most admirable
objects of worshipping and a sublime example of Art, the
Aphrodite (Venus) of Milos which was discovered in 1820 in a
cave in Plaka of Milos and is considered a work of art of the
Hellenistic years, was stolen by the French and decorates the
Museum of Louvre. A copy of the statue stands in the Museum of
Milos.
>> Cyclades Islands : Amorgos, Anafi,
Andros, Antiparos,
Delos, Folegandros,
Ios, Kea,
Kimolos, Kithnos,
Koufonisia, Milos,
Mykonos, Naxos,
Paros, Santorini,
Serifos, Sifnos,
Sikinos, Syros,
Tinos.
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