Island wild beauty and atmosphere, rocky and anemodarmeno, Folegandros has existed for years in the shadow of neighbouring Santorini, katamesis the Aegean.
A twenty years ago began building the low season of myth, because of unspecified sagini committed the first visitors, many of whom have now "politografithei" as locals ... even for the duration of the summer.
With stable visitors since the mid-80s, mostly Greek tourists alternative concept in terms of vacation, but fanatics and foreigners fans (especially Italians), the island with "strange" name, allegedly was baptized by a homonym Minoiti Prince knows most intense tourism development, attracting more and more visitors.
Shortly improving infrastructure in rocky entity, a little organisation aktoploikis association with Piraeus and much more the decision of local people to take advantage of the limited financial capabilities of the island and that is acquired and Folegandros hotel with spa and pool!
The history of development similar to those of other developed touring Greek islands, but somewhere there must be attributed tribute to a small local society, which resists the plastic chair, shops with souvenirs, and bars which recognize only the Madonna as appropriate for talaiporimena decks.
Now the ship has salparei ...*
(Price eneken to Panos Gavala, who came from the island)
Passing the comprehensive details, Folegandros is approximately 10 hours from the port of Piraeus, if you choose the option of conventional ships and approximately 5 hours, it opts for high-speed initiated in the summer months.
This is a small island, with topography reminiscent of Santorini but the geological interest.
Panypsilos rock, impressive when plisiazeis with the ship, agonos and hence poor in crops, hosts just 300 residents, who live in three settlements: Karavostassi (the port of the island), Country, which is divided into firostefani , And Ano Mera, mountainous rural settlement of the island.
The infrastructure has Karavostasis host vessels, which operate more and more cruisers, Greeks and foreigners. Also operated hotels, rented rooms and camping on the island, which is rudimentary, without shade and restaurant. There are also restaurants, mezedopoleia more popular with the "wire" but o. .. Evangelos.
This all-day bar, on akrothalassia, which also performs debts "plot" for anyone waiting boat. Also structured groups of the island, preparing for his reception of ... late. Once the boat that brings them, although coming in with a drink for the welcome.
From the port starts and the bus running traffic with the Country and ELIA. The road network at least in this key feature is good.
The kastropoliteia
In Country, which consists of more accommodation, restaurants and bars on the island, the bus parked in the square Pounda, as the largest part of it is inaccessible to cars.
Even if you are katakopoi, stand for a moment in opening Pounta before you find rooms. From there you see open horizon and osfrainesai the essence of the holiday.
After following the discovery of the country, although little is perhaps one of the most beautiful in the Cyclades (without exaggeration). The centre consists of three successive squares, but the super scene is the Castle.
Thumbnail esokleisti state, built on the edge of the cliff, profylasse the locals from the attacks of pirates. It is impeccably maintained, because while there still inhabited run and the Montreal hotel. Escaping from the Castle, daidalodi cobbled streets in the lead when centre, when the "gaps" in the country.
Returning to the squares (which to exigoumaste is like yards), meet the most central, but restaurants and bars lilipouteia. The first square Ntounavi, has been renamed - eleo restaurant hosting a square-"Italian". The owner is not Italian but speaks the language and is attracting numerous known, fonakladikes and therefore ... eknefristikes groups of Italian tourists.
The second Kontarini square bounded by two churches and is better known as the square of Piatsas, both headquartered here because homonym tavern and it is indeed the "piatsa" Country. It lives morning and evening is the meeting point.
Besides the restaurant, "Piatsas" tables of the square also shared the restaurant "Melissa", with Mrs Katina in the kitchen, which mageirefei shocking. Paradipla, there is a microscopic Astarti to drink and rakomelo, while new arrival is the bar of Christopher and Vasili under the name ba-raki, shortly after Astarti.
The next square of Crete hosts the homonymous tavern while the exit is even more restaurants and cafes. Turning left pefteis in the strait "Ydrochoou", hot spot for the early evening hours. Also makes the best espresso for those who want a little boost after meals and before the evening stroll. It also serves a sokolatenio poem, pure thermido-bomb, which probably does not have a specific name. Just asking ... it.
There is still piatsa outside centre in - let's say-square outside the oven of the Country, where there is a tavern and Maria. A unreservedly for all of the other dishes and the service has not overstraining the central square.
The nature of entertainment in Folegandros is the big asset.
This "game" is ypaithrios. Tros in the squares chazefontas the peratzada, parangelneis drink from the adjacent bar and arazeis on pezoules. The concept sit in this or in particular are confused.
Clearly parangelneis (... and pay) in this shop but in reality you are a common area where everyone gathered in a climate of slackness. Can dyskolefesai to listen to music, but there are those outside the programme and project times, stinetai feast trikouverto from nowhere.
Anepitidefta beautiful
This morning's life belongs to the beaches of the island, which is small, many of them inaccessible by road but clean, without anorganotes beach bar, sez longk and umbrellas.
A good idea is to round the island by boat, starting from Karavostassi. Captain said John, who besides safe passage, and still offers unique cruise without unnecessary ntavantouria.
During the round, given the unique opportunity to see the Chrysospilia, the cave with findings of the 4 th century BC, which unfortunately is not visited and not approached only by sea and the condition of good weather.
Even if one does not choose the periplou, deserves to be taken by boat Karavostassi for Katergo, which is considered the most beautiful beach of the island.
Road one can reach the beach of St. George, of course, the beaches of the harbour (the most interesting is the shift) and the Agali, a small protected by the meltemia Bay, where apart from the homonymous beach, found accommodation and restaurants.
From the start Agali also boats on nearby beaches (Agios Nikolaos, Vineyard etc) and paths for the more active holidaymakers.
It would be a great failure if the visitor did not visit the island of Ano Mera, which has the cosmopolitan nature of the country but maintains the authenticity of the island aloviti. Besides the view and the harsh nature of the Upper Meras, the visitor comes s'epafi the forgotten meaning of the measure, maintaining both the landscape and people.
Katiforizontas from the mountainous village, an attitude in the folklore museum of the island is interesting because this is not a cold room exhibits, but a preserved agrotospito outlining the organization of life of local people in the not too distant hard years of the absence of electricity and resources .
Where to stay
Two of the best choices in terms of hotels Folegandros is luxurious Chora Resort (tel. 22860 41590-4), which features rooms with all necessary amenities, including air condition, mini bar and satellite tielorasis and suites, spa and outdoor pool, and Kallisti (Country, tel: 22860 41555) with perfectly traditionally decorated rooms, which have, among other things, air condition, mini bar and chtista beds). Prices for double rooms during high season start at 280 and 90 euros respectively.
Do not leave Folegandros if not ...
-- Climb to the dominant church of the Virgin in Country
-- Look East from an opening of the Country
-- View sunset in the hotel coffee "Windmill" in the Country
-- View sunset in the cafe ... "Sunset" ELIA
-- Eat matsata with cock or rabbit in Peace 'ELIA, piperofai the "Melissa", karpouzenia anywhere and tyropita from the oven the morning of the Country…
-- Pieite rakomela (very good one to make "Piatsa" with their own local honey)
-- Akousete even a mantinada by the locals to "own" the cafe
-- Perpatisete even for a moment on a path of
-- Ask your friends to be with siniala hail from the mirror when you're in the ship return
