The Alternative Mykonos!
When the beautiful Greek Island of Mykonos comes to mind, crazy partying and frantic fun times are the first things that pop-up! The Island with the long history and Mythology is believed to be the location of the legendary Gigantomachy, while it’s said to have taken its name after its first ruler, Mykonos, the grandson of the Olympian God Apollo and a local hero. Since the seventies, the island has become one of the get-setters and A-listers favorite partying scenes and vacation escapes. Every summer celebrities and people from all over the world, visit Mykonos aiming to have endless fun and live the Greek dream! The venues and clubs stay open all night long until the next morning, offering the chance for dancing and much more. However it is safe to say that, that’s not the only thing the amazing Cycladic Island has to offer…
The Beaches
Contrary to popular belief, Mykonos is not all about the crowded, cosmopolitan beaches that dominate the South coast. On the North coast, the beaches are much more quite, idyllic and secluded, such as the Fokos beach, Frangia beach or the Ftelia beach. Those places offer the chance for long, quite dips and endless staring at the magnificent Aegean blue. Moments of solitude that will be ideal for the ones who are seeking a true experience of a Greek Island. Also, taking a dip under the Mykonian, night sky especially if it’s accompanied by the presence of the crescent moon or even the full moon, would be a truly magical and, dare we say, romantic experience!
A Spiritual Escape
For the most spiritual ones, the religious side of Mykonos will most certainly be highly appreciated. Monasteries and churches built with the classic, Cycladic architecture are definitely worth visiting. Panagia Parapotiani is considered to be one of the most popular amongst the 400 -yes, that is the actual number- churches on the island. It was built somewhere between the 15th and the 17th century and it consists of 5 different churches that were built on top or next to each other. At the Ano Mera town, one will find the Monasteri of Panagia Tourliani, a truly magnificent church dated all the way back to the 18th century. The dome and the walls of it are filled with icons, while its classical tower was built later on during the thirties, however this takes nothing away from the historic heritage of the building, instead it adds even more magic. The list goes on and on and our only suggestion would be to take the chance and visit as many as you can!
Delos
Last, but never least, not visiting the most sacred island of the ancient Greece, Delos would be a crime. The uninhabited beauty is only 20 minutes away of the Mykonos harbor by boat and it is said to be the birthplace of the twins, Artemis and Apollo. The ruins of the temples honoring those gods date back to the 7th century BC and offer an amazing, time-travel back to ancient Greece that’s bound to leave you in awe. Paying a visit to the Archaeological Museum of Delos is highly recommended as well.
All in all the Island of The Winds, as Mykonos is often called, has much more to offer than what meets the eye at first glance. All it takes is a little research and willingness to discover. The amazing Greek cuisine, the beautiful scenery and the long history back in time are sure to please even the most demanding traveler! An unforgettable experience awaits…
