About Astipalaia
Located halfway between the Dodecanese and the Cyclades and sharing aspects of both, Astipalaia always seems under-rated to me.
At least three hours by ship from any other island, Astipalaia has a self-contained feel. The smell of its herb-covered hills wafting over the sea whilst still out of sight is an unforgettable first impression.
Once there, you shouldn’t feel at all cut off, as it has small doses of everything except an international airport. You won’t find the hills crowded, though, tourism is largely contained in the string of beaches along the south coast.
Astipalaia key points:
- A distinctive butterfly shape, visible from above and, with faith, from the sea
- A picturesque Chora on a towering crag, capped with a photogenic Venetian fortress
- Rounded hills, brown in summer, some with limestone outcrops, dotted with shepherds, bee-keepers and tiny rustic chapels
- Exciting islets, with day-trip possibilities in season
- Many plants, especially autumn flowering cyclamens and asphodels and a unique and celebrated absence of snakes
- A winter population of around 1200 which rises to 7000 at the height of summer, many from Italy
- Beaches, accommodation, water sports and other facilities in self-contained enclaves
