ASTYPALAIA

A place, will never forget. A place to come back.

Astypalaia, the geographical and cultural bridge between Cyclades and Dodecanese, has a mysterious wild beauty that lets no traveller forget his steps within the hidden abundance of the island. Hora, its capital, is a genuine sample of the traditional architecture of Cyclades, even if the island belongs administratively to the Dodecanese. Whitewashed houses and blue windows, stone windmills and light blue domes, labyrinthine alleys and flowery courtyards spread amphitheatrically on the slope of the hill of the Venetian castle of Quirini family (15thcentury). The convoluted coastline, broken up in pristine bays and small coves, and the beautiful landscapes of the island seem like they have been untouched from the passage of time, while the local people have managed to maintain the authenticity of this enchanting place alive. The wonderful paths of Astypalaia give to the travellers the opportunity to discover the mountainous landscapes of the hinterland with its charming scattered chapels surrounded by the scents of thyme and sage that decorate the arid landscape. The butterfly of the Aegean is waiting for you to discover its beauties that spread over her two wings.

The gastronomic richness of Astypalaia

Astypalaia offers a full range of local products and flavors such as: thyme honey, “zafora” (wild saffron), “alisfakia” (wild sage), wild thyme, wild oregano, “chlori” (local cream cheese), “pougia” (cheese pies served with honey), “lampropittes” (saffron cheese pies), “kitrinokouloura” (homemade saffron cookies), “labriano” (goat stuffed with rice and herbs), “aradista” (lentil soup with dumplings), “makarounes” (homemade pasta), “lazanakia” (homemade ravioli with saffron and cheese), “xerotigana” (sweet treats with honey).

Traditional festivals in Astypalaia

Astypalaia is a hospitable place, full of life. The traditional festivals of the island are a unique opportunity to get closer to the Astypalites, to get to know the history of the place and celebrate until the morning. The most famous festivals of Astypalaia are: 2/2: Panagia Flevariotissa church, 27/7: Aghios Padeleimonas church, 06/08: Christos Sotiras church, 14-15/08: Panagia Portaitissa church, 28/08: Aghios Ioannis church, 08/09: Panagia Poulariani & Panagia tou Thoma churches.

Population: 1.334 people | Villages: Astypalea or Chora, Pera Gialos, Livadi, Analipsi or Maltezana, Vathi
 

Travelling to Astypalaia

Flight connection is operated by Sky Express www.skyexpress.gr.. Astypalaia is connected directly with Athens (Athens International Airport – trip duration 55 minutes), while there is a stop-over connection with 4 more islands; Leros (trip duration 20 minutes), Kalymnos (trip duration 50 minutes), Kos (trip duration 1 hour and 20 minutes) and Rhodes (trip duration 2 hours).

Ferry connection is operated by Blue Star Ferries www.bluestarferries.com. Astypalaia is centrally connected with Piraeus port (trip duration around 10 hours), and it is also cross connected with Cyclades (Paros, Naxos, Donousa, Amorgos – trip duration between 1 ½ hour to 4 ½ hours) and Dodecanese (Kalymnos, Kos, Nisyros, Tilos, Rhodes – trip duration between 3 hours to 8 hours).