The Cyclades: white washed houses, blue domed churches, narrow allies with bright bougainvillea, dry & wind swept landscapes in sandy shades with low vegetation, deep blue skies that rise to the heavens and crystal seas in all shades of blue –these are the islands that dominate Instagram posts and the minds of most tourists. They include the most popular islands: Mykonos, Santorini, Paros, Naxos and Milos. However, they are much more than just those islands. The Cyclades got their name in ancient times because they are the islands that form a circle (cyclos– κυκλος) around the most sacred of all islands, Delos where the twin gods, Artemis and Apollo were born. They consist of 39 islands, of which 24 are inhabited–most even before the bronze age. Each island is unique, but all share the same colors and topography. As they are quite dry and prone to high winds, vegetation is sparse and before tourism, the main industry was marble and mineral mining. Traditional Cycladic cuisine reflects the meagre vegetation in its simplicity, using very few ingredients with an abundance of seafood dishes, goat and legumes, especially “fava” or yellow split pea puree.
Because the winds can be unpredictable and also quite strong at times, the best time to visit is in June until the beginning of July, and early September. This past summer, the wind started blowing around July 3 and didn’t stop the whole month! However, some islands are more protected than others. I have been to 15 Cyclades so far and this summer I visited the small Cyclades –Donoussa, Schinousa and Iraklia, where there was a continual breeze but not too windy to prohibit swimming. (photos from Milos, Donoussa and Amorgos). Here is more information about the Cyclades.
Because the winds can be unpredictable and also quite strong at times, the best time to visit is in June until the beginning of July, and early September. This past summer, the wind started blowing around July 3 and didn’t stop the whole month! However, some islands are more protected than others. I have been to 15 Cyclades so far and this summer I visited the small Cyclades –Donoussa, Schinousa and Iraklia, where there was a continual breeze but not too windy to prohibit swimming. (photos from Milos, Donoussa and Amorgos). Here is more information about the Cyclades.
