The "Vivamare" studios, with its modern equipment, offers the visitor
all the comforts for a pleasant residence. From the port, every day, you can
make daily excursions to the beautiful remote beaches of the island. To the
southwest Agios Yannis,Vatses, Caminakia, to the east Agios Konstantinos,
Leivadi, Agia Kyriaki, Koutsomitis, Schinontas,Agrelidi. You can visit the
beautiful beaches of Analipsi (Maltezana) also by car. Restaurants, romantic
taverns and ouzeri at Pera-Gialos, Chora and Leivadi will offer you delicious
homemade plates of seafood.
For your night entertainment, the bars of chora reserve for your many surprises
for long, unforgettable nights. In the narrow, paved with stones streets of
Chora, you will discover the magic and the mystery of the place, which preserved
his colour and character unchanged as the time went by Churches, wooden bleu
balconies, narrow streets paved with stones, the Castle of legends and History.
HistoryAstypalaia has travelled through time with the same name. Small,
trivial changes have portrayed her as "Astoopalia", "Astropalia", and "Stipalia".
According to Greek mythology, Astypalaia and Europe were the daughters of
Finikos and Perimidis. From the union of Astypalaia and Poseidon, god of the
water, the Argonaut, Agaeos was born and so was first settled by the Kares who
named her "Pyra" for the red colour of her soil. Because of her many fragrant
flowers and her fruit, the Ancient Greek called her "the Gods Bank".
Astypalaia has gone through the Occupation of Crete, the Minoan Era and later on
became Greek because of settlers who came from Megara.
During the ancient years, the island must have shown a significant climax as can
be witnessed by the various findings, mainly coins which were found during
excavations and from the frequent references in texts of ancient writers. The
findings are on display at the Archaeological Museum which is open to the public
at Pera Yalos and where the visitor can begin to understand the life of
Astypalaia.
During the Hellenistic Era, it was a port (a station of Ptolemy of Egypt)
and during the Roman Period, it showed a great development owed to its
abundant, natural ports which resulted in starting points against the
pirates. During the Byzantine Ages, the escalation of piratism brought about
changes to the architectural structure and location of the houses of the
island, such as the decline of the coastal
dwellings and the movement of the population within the constructed walls of
the castle for protection. This era marks the construction of the Castle of
Agios Ioannis, situated on the southwestern coast of Astypalaia, whose
remains can be found up to today.
The Romans, who appreciated each countrys food most of all, called
Astypalaia "fish-bearing" because of the great amount and high quality of
fish the island has.
However, the period with the most significant mark, the Castle, which has
survived up to our days, is that of the Venetian Conquest after the
destruction of the Byzantine Empire by the Franks in 1204, and after the
creation of Doukatos of Naxos, Markos Sanouthos, the Venetian founder,
conceded Astypalaia to the nobleman, John Querini, also of Venetian descent.
He was the founder and its first owner of the lodging which consisted of the
center of todays settlement. The Venetian stayed in Astypalaia from 1207 to
1269 during the time which the Byzantine ruled. However, in 1310, John
Querini the second, governor of Tinos and Mykonos and the descendant of John
Querini the first, conquered Astypalaia again with the help of Markos
Grimanis. The Querini family remained the rulers of the island for about 300
years.
Each in his rules, renovated and added to the Castle. Stone plaques with the
family emblem of the Venetian nobility who built and dwelt in the Castle.
They are built into various points of the walls and stand memory to their
splendor of long ago. One of these plaques has survived up to our days and
is built in a part of the Castle where it can be admired by the visitor.
It was placed there in March 1413, the day which was dedicated to their
patron Saint Querini, John Querini the fourth, "Count of Astypalaia" and his
wife Isabetta. The Venetians lost Astypalaia in 1537 when Barbarosa the
terrible, took over the islands.
During Turkish rule, Astypalaia had reserved privileges and so she remained
self-governed. Astypalaia took part in the Greek Revolution of 1821, but,
like the rest Dodecanese, she was not included in the provisions of the free
Greek Nation. She remained under Turkish Rule until 1912 when the Italian
rule followed.
Along with the Dodecanesian islands, she was finally united to the rest of
Greece on the 7th of March 1948.
The rugged coastline of Astypalea is nothing more than an endless game
between land and sea. In the middle of the island approximately, the land
narrows so much that a strip just 10 m wide connects the two sections. The
Steno, as it is known by locals, divides Astypalea into the eastern Mesa
Nisi (middle island) and the western 'Exo Nisi' (outer island).
Astypalea or Hora
This is the capital and port of the island built on a hill protruding
into the sea thus forming two bays: the port - Pera Yialos -and Livadi Bay.
The peak is dominated by the fortress built of dark local stone from which
one can see the glowing white domes of the Evangelistria and Aghios Georgios
Churches sticking out. Around it are white houses with blue doors and
windows and wooden railings on the balconies. Among them are churches and
domed chapels. On the saddle of the hill are eight windmills, a unique jewel
adorning Hora. Slightly further on is the traditional coffee house and
further still is the Town Hall from whence the two main roads which lead up
the hill to the Fortress begin. Each leads to a well known church, the
Monastery of Panaghia Portaitissa on the Livadi Bay side and the Megali
Panaghia Church on the Pera Yialos side.
Analipsi or Maltezana
A seaside village spread out along a small valley in Exo Nisi with a
beautiful sandy beach. The second name 'Maltezana' makes reference to the
pirates who pillaged the Aegean and found refuge in the island's sheltered
bays. The village hugs the bay with a long jetty at which fishing caiques
moor. The orchards and vineyards go right down to the water's edge. Tour
boats can take visitors to the island's beaches and the islets of Hondro,
Ligno, Aghia Kyriaki, Koutsomytis, Syrna and Kounoupi.
Livadi
A seaside village spread along a fertile valley on the inlet of the bay
with the same name. Livadi is the island's flower garden. The gardens with
mandarin trees, orange trees, vines, and houses bedecked in flowers are
spread along the entire length of the stream which terminates at a beautiful
beach.
Vathi
Vathi resembles are lagoon. The bay is almost completely closed off with
an opening of just 50m. There are two small villages at Vathi: Exo Vathi
which is at the mouth of the bay with its small jetty at which caiques moor
and Mesa Vathi on the inlet of the bay with fields, a few trees and
vineyards. Visitors can reach Vathi by road along a passable dirt track or
by boat. There are regular sailings from Vai Bay.