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Milos

Milos is the most southerly island in the Western Cyclades. It is notable for its volcanic soil and for the rich deposits of minerals that lie beneath.

It has a distinctive horseshoe shape. Milos is best known all over the world for the famous statue of Aphrodite which was found here.

There are various kinds of beaches in Milos. Some of them are wonderful beaches with golden sand, and some of them have sharp rocks and caves that look like pictures in a fairy-tale.

Any traveler going to Milos will surely be pleased from the sites of the island and the touristic infrastructure.

Adamas, one of the safest natural harbors in the Aegean, is a particularly charming spot, with whitewashed houses, cobbled alleys, balconies crammed with flowerpots and fragrant tamarisks, which have been inscribed by the poets.

Plaka is the main town on the island. It is built on a rather flat valley with a Cycladic arthitecture. On top of the hill, the ruins of a Frankish castle can be examined and a beautiful view is available for those who manage the 30 minute climb. Inside the castle, the church of Thalasítra is situated, which was built in the 13th century.

Plaka also has a must-see cemetery. The cemetery looks like a series of catacombs where the rich and poor are buried side by side. In the nearby museum there is an exact copy of the sculpture of Afrodite of Mílos, which was sent by the Muesum of Le Louvre in Paris. The Archaeological Museum has a copy of the Venus de Mile as well as other finds from various periods. The Historical and Folklore Museum has a collection of folk artifacts, samples of the island's minerals, photographs and historical documents of the greatest interest.

Near the town, there are wonderful Roman mosaics (near a place called Tramithia) and the village Tripití where the real Afrodite lived. In a place called Klíma, there are catacombs dating back to the beginning of the Christian era.

Visitors will meet a small settlement called Triovásalo, built by three brothers. Further up, is the village Péra Triovásalo, where the church of Saint George, has a folk mosaic made of colored shells, that can be seen in front of the entrance.

Pollónia, is the second most important town of the island, built on the north eastern part of the island, right on the sea. Nearby can be found the ruins of the ancient town of Flakopí. Going south, for about 5-10 kilometers, one meets Voudiá, a great beach, affected by the Meltemi winds of the late summer.

Zefiria a very nice village, which used to be the ancient capital of the island, until the 18th century. Now, an agricultural center with vines, olive trees and pressing machines and storages. In the village is also the church of Panagiá Portianí, built in 1889.

Among the most notable of its churches are those of Our Lady 'Korfiotissa', Our Lady 'Thalassistra' and Our Lady 'Messa Panagia'. The Archaeological Museum has a copy of the Venus de Milo as well as other finds from various periods. The Historical and Folklore Museum has a collection of folk artifacts, samples of the island's minerals, photographs and historical documents of great interest.

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