Folegandros

Little-known just a few years ago and frequented only by insiders, Folegandros is now served by high-speed ferries and its popularity is growing, without (for the moment) falling prey to mass tourism.

Arid and mountainous, with steep slopes, Folegandros is not very attractive from the sea, when the summer sun has burnt everything. At this time of year, it's like a big pebble thrown into the Aegean Sea, with only the ever-present scent of thyme to remind us that in spring the island is covered in flowers.

The great attraction of Folegandros is its main town, which as in many other Cyclades is called Chora, or simply the name of the island. Perched on a cliff 200 m above sea level, it is a superb traffic-free village, with an ancient part, the Kastro, somewhat similar to the village of the same name on Sifnos or the ancient part of the village of Antiparos.

With its pretty little streets converging on lively squares in the evenings, Chora is a very friendly village, with a particularly cheerful atmosphere. To the north, perched on the edge of the cliffs, the ancient citadel built in the 13th century by the Venetians is an inviting place to stroll and offers magnificent views.

Folegandros is an island where the pleasures of hiking and swimming mix happily: only one beach, Angali, is accessible by road, and all the others are hidden or difficult to reach. But this doesn't stop them being very popular in summer. If you find a deserted beach, beware: if there's no-one there, it's because the wind is going to blow hard! On Folegandros, you choose your beach according to the direction of the wind...