CYCLADES

In the summer of 2016 we decided to take a trip to Greece. We were undecided on the islands to visit, because Greece is really fascinating, each island has its own particularity and beautiful landscapes, the sea is warm and clean, and the food is great. I know people who once went on holiday to Greece and now they can not stop, and they are visiting all the archipelagos and all the islands.
Then we decided on the Cyclades, and in the Cyclades we chose Santorini, Naxos and Mykonos. After this trip, I must say that we made a good choice. Santorini has postcard landscapes and sunsets, then there’s Naxos, my favorite: every single lane is unique, colorful and full of flowers, and the trip to the Small Cyclades allows you to see some enchanting Caribbean beaches. At the end of the holiday we chose Mykonos, where you can enjoy more beach life, relax, sea and nightlife, ideal for relaxing at the end of your holiday.

1.Up and down on the stairs in Imerovigli

Imerovigli is known mostly for its landscape, called “the balcony of the Aegean”.
Its houses are built amphitheatrically around a caldera and is crossed by paved and narrow paths. It is beautiful to wander aimlessly along the small lanes characterized by white steps that stand out even more under the sun, and stop every now and then to photograph the panorama that you see looking out on the caldera.

2. Staring at the blue roofs in Fira village

Fira is the capital of the island of Santorini.
The village buildings have the Cycladic architectural style, with the famous blue-roofed churches typical of Santorini.
Thanks to these and the presence of numerous shops, restaurants and bars, Fira is the main tourist destination of the island.
You can not miss a tour of the village at sunset, admiring the blue domes, before taking a glass of the famous wine while watching the sunset, in one of the little bars overlooking the sea.

3. Sunset in Oia

Oia is definitely the most photographed village on the island. The village has houses of many colors perched on the cliff slopes. Sunset is one of the unmissable things on a trip to Santorini, even if it’s not as romantic as it might seem: from about an hour before sunset, people start a large gathering on the cliffs, and an unforgettable romantic moment turns into an elbowing to find a corner from which to photograph the sunset. But in the end the landscape is so beautiful that it will be worth it!

4. Boat trip to the old Santorini caldera

The whole landscape of Santorini is strongly influenced by seismic eruptions that have left indelible marks to the nature of the place, just think that the last strong eruption was less than a century ago: the eastern side of the island gently slopes towards the sea and it is strongly cultivated, while the western side is rocky and steep. The same is reflected on the beaches: rocky on the west coast, sandy or pebbly on the east coast.
You can spend a day doing of the many organized boat tours to Palea Kameni, Nea Kameni and Thirasia, where you will be taken to the old Santorini caldera. The boat ride includes a bath in the hot springs of sulfur water, while from Nea Kameni you can reach the volcanic crater still in activity.

5. Eat the typical “saganaki” with fish

If you search the word “saganaki” on google, you will get thousands of images of different types. This is because the saganàki is the technique of preparation itself, which is made using a particular slightly concave pan, with two side handles. With this name then you can find thousands of dishes. In particular, the one in the picture are mussels in tomato sauce and feta, a simple dish that I have not been able to do without once tried.
You can accompany it with a white wine, for which Santorini is famous.

6. Get lost in a village in Naxos, watching the flowers exploding in the streets

Every single village, little street, corner, or house in Naxos is spectacular. I could have spent the whole day (actually I did!) photographing those that are normal streets for the inhabitants.
Each house is made by lovely pastel colors, with flowers of various colors that are so lush that they explode out of the balconies, forming a beautiful colorful spectacle for those walking in the street.

7. Visit the small Cyclades, with their caribbean beaches

The group of islands south of Naxos is called “small Cyclades”, and includes Ano Koufunisi, Iraklia, Skhinoussa, and Dhonoussa, the most distant island and less included in organized tours.
The tour we chose included the islands of Iraklia and Ano Koufunisi, and it is definitely worth visiting.
As soon as you arrive on these islands you will find yourself in front of a Caribbean landscape, with white sand and crystal clear water, dreamlike!

8. Stare in temple of Apollon until the sun goes down into it

The Portara or Porta of the temple of Apollon is a fragment of the incomplete temple of Apollo, and is considered the landmark of Naxos.
It is located on a peninsula in front of the city of Naxos. To take a picture at sunset we had to go back a second time, because the little ramp that leads to the peninsula is narrow and completely surrounded by the sea on both sides, and if there is strong wind, there are waves that invade it completely and it may be impossible to cross it.
The spectacle of the sunset and the sun that enters the port of Naxos are great and very romantic.

9. Visit the ruines in Delos

The ruins of ancient Delos are the only cycladic site declared a UNESCO heritage site.
These ruins are able to convey the greatness of the past of this small island a few miles from Mykonos. According to Greek mythology, Latona gave birth to the two divine twins, Artemis and Apollo, on the island of Delos, event from which derives its ancient fame.
Do not miss the temple of Apollo and the way of the Lions.

10. Dance all night long in a club in Mykonos

Even for those who do not like discos and dance music, you can not avoid, if you visit Mykonos, to spend the afternoon, the evening or the night in one of the colorful beach clubs.
You can alternate beach, music, dance and original cocktails, see people dancing on the tables wearing flower crowns or tiny bikinis, and dancing with strange people dressed in funny atypical ways. On the days when I visited Mykonos, the European Gay festival was under way, so maybe even more for this reason it was particularly fun to spend the afternoon at one of the island’s clubs.

When to go?

Winter

It is the coldest period, the sun may be missing. The highest peaks of the islands can also be covered by snow.

Spring

The wonderful wildflowers of the plains begin to bloom. Time is more reliable, nature is green, but the sea is still a bit cold.

Summer

The weather is warm and pleasant, the sea is warmer, but the number of tourists is higher and even the prices rise.

Autumn

There are fewer restaurants open, but the weather is pleasant, not too hot, and on the southernmost islands you can swim until November.

We have visited the islands in August, and the weather was fine, also the sea was perfect, but for sure there are many tourists (in particular in Mykonos which is also famous for clubs and discos, the streets were full of motorcycles and sometimes it was almost impossible to drive) So, if you can choose, the best months to visit Lisbon are May, June and September. In this period you can go hiking, the weather is not too hot, you can swim because the sea is warm, there are not too many tourists and therefore the prices are more affordable. Even in July and August you can visit the islands, but during the day the temperature can be hot, and there are many tourists. 

three unmissable stops

Best photos spots

I’m a photographer, so I’m always looking for the best corner in the world to make the perfect picture. Often, with great pleasure of my traveling companions, I also spend hours staring at the landscape, waiting for the perfect moment with perfect light. Therefore, when I decided to create my blog, I could not avoid to include a dedicated section to photography enthusiasts like me, always looking for the landscape that leaves you breathless. Hope you will enjoy these places where, in my opinion, you can enjoy wonderful landscapes and take the best pictures.