Ios Island - Cycylades, Greece
If you have decided to spend your holiday on one picturesque Greek island, you'd have hard time because it is difficult to tell which one is better than the other. Generally they can be divided into secluded, where the local atmosphere has been preserved, and calmness and tranquility will let you rejoice and relish your holiday; the other type is more "mundane" so to speak, with more lively night life and luxury hotels and bars. There are admirers to both types.
The next island from the secluded ones in the Cyclades group is Ios (Greek: Ιος). It is a hilly place with cliffs down to the sea on most sides, located exactly in the middle between Paros and Santorini. It is about 18 km (11 miles) long, 10 km (6 m) wide, with an area of about 105 km2 (41 m2). Population was 1,100 in 1992 (steady decline of about 3,500 in the 19th century).
The "hora" (main town and administrative centre) is Ios, ending with the Ormos harbour in the northwest. From this point one of the frequent buses or just a 15-minute walk up the stairy donkey path takes you to the village. This is a white and very picturesque typically cycladic village, full of stairs and narrow walks, that makes it inaccessible for cars of any kind. Today, the main path through this village is completely taken over by tourism in terms of restaurants, boutiques, bars and discotheques. Apart from the harbour and the above located village, Ios has only a few small neighbourhoods, just a group of spread out houses in the background of enormous beaches (Theodoti, Kalamos, Manganari). Since the 1990s the island authorities work on Ios development as a resort, attracting also different and wealthier kinds of tourists. With support from the European community infrastructure has been considerably improved, and a majestic amphi-theater has been created by the German architect Peter Haupt on the very top of the village hill. Unfortunately, cultural events only seldom take place up there.
Unlike the other islands, Ios has taken small part in history. Ancient legends say that Homer's mother was from Ios, and that he himself is buried there -- and indeed the locals will guide visitors to the site of the ancient town of Plakatos, at the northernmost end of the island, where the rocky entrance to an old tomb may be seen. Yet there is no proved evidence connecting this with Homer however. However, signs of Mycenaean settlement can be found.
At the north end of Ios you can see remnants from a Venetian castle built in the 15th century. The amazing number of 150 churches and chapels (of course most of them not very big) can be found on the island.
Ios attracts very large numbers of young tourists (the so-called "bag-packers"), many of whom sleep on the beaches under starry sky after partying through of the night. One of the ad-sentences of the island is: "Ios: Where Spring Break Lasts All Summer" or "IOS - Welcome to the Partyland, Where Fun Never Ends". The most popular beach is Milopotamos (or Milopota).
Panagia Gremiotissa is the biggest church, and it is situated on top of one hill, overlooking the hole island. It is whitewashed, in front of it there is a huge palm tree. (The purpose of whitewashing of the houses on Greek Islands can be explained very easily - the sun is rather fierce down there, and the white paint reflects the sun beams, so that the overall heating is not so much, whereas black for example absorbs heat, and were they black, then the temperature inside would be unbearable.
The most important and frequented cultural event of the island are the "Omiria", a festival in Homer's honour. It takes place in the first two weekends of May - sports competitions, lectures about Homer, theatre contest, art workshops, feasts with traditional meals, musical events. This event is really something all islanders look forward to.
The bay of Yialos is one of the biggest natural harbours in the Agean sea. Being the only point of access to the island, the port plaza is usually busy with coming an going travellers.
During the season some really nice yachts anchor in the marina. The yachting culture flourishes in Yialos, especially during the two important regattas - Cyclades Rally and Aegean Rally.
The little fishermen´s port at the marina is extremely busy, especially in the morning and in the evening when the fishermen are coming home on their traditional Kaikis with the harvest of the sea.
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