Sightseeing in Folegandros Island - what to see. Complete travel guide

Small Folegandros Island is part of the Cyclades islands. It has begun attracting attention of travelers a few years ago. The island covers 32 square kilometers. Only three settlements: the capital city of Chora, Ano Meria and Karavostasi are situated on the island. Constantly the island is home to about 600 people. Folegandros is one of the few Greek islands, which has managed to preserve their historical and cultural charm entirely. One of the main attractive features of the island is a large selection of beaches; the total length of its coastline is about 40 kilometers.

This Greek island will appeal to fans of excursions, as there are many interesting places to explore. The main historical symbol of Chora is the old Venetian fortress built on top of a cliff. The walls of the fortress hide streets of the old town, where you can see a lot of charming residential houses and associated facilities. In the immediate vicinity of the fortress, there is a very pretty natural balcony on the edge of the cliff. That's the best fit for admiring the surrounding scenery. You won't find such a luxurious natural viewing platform in any other town in Greece.

Several major tourist attractions are in the immediate vicinity of Chora. The graceful Panagia Church is among them. This snow-white church building is a classic example of national architecture; centuries later, it has managed to retain its pristine decor and lots of priceless artifacts. Nearby there is amazing Panagia Monastery Ano Meria situated on a hilltop. You can climb to the monastery via scenic winding road lined with snow-white plates. Climb to the top of the hill will give a lot of unforgettable experiences. The path passes through very scenic places with impenetrable forests on one side and a steep cliff on the other side. Copyright www.orangesmile.com

The main attraction of the picturesque village of Ano Meria is the Ethnological Museum Ano Meria occupying one of the most beautiful buildings of the island. Its walls house priceless collection of handicrafts and works of art, as well as unique historical artifacts telling about the most important events on the island.

The picturesque port town of Karavostasi is also attention worth. It's ideal for exploring culture of the indigenous population; the place will appeal to hikers. The busiest place in town is the port area with some great taverns and pretty streets originating there. Every day excursions to the most popular natural attraction of the island, Hrisospilya cave, are arranged in the port area. Literally, the name of the sight can be translated as ‘the Golden Cave’; it's possible to reach it only by boat.

Besides a rich excursion program and charming beaches, Folegandros is ready to offer a broad choice of entertainment venues to its guests. All large towns of the island have bars with dance floors and pubs that offer signature cocktails and popular dishes of the national cuisine. As a rule, the most popular entertainment complexes are located not far from Chora Village.

Vacationers should not neglect taverns that specialize in cooking national dishes. They are ideal for trying various interesting seafood dishes. In each tavern, local chefs offer exclusive dishes that are often cooked in accordance with family recipes. Gourmets will find it interesting to visit Ano Meria town that has become widely famous because the most popular tavern on the island, Mimis, is located there. Owners of the tavern cook all dishes in accordance with ancient classical recipes, which they keep in secret. Local wine bars also deserve the closest attention. They offer best varieties of wine from different regions of Greece.

Fans of beachside recreation, as a rule, are in love with Fira and Agios Nikolaos beaches. The latter is an incredibly calm place almost deprived of the tourist infrastructure. The island is rich in interesting natural landmarks. Its northeastern part is the location of a unique stalactite cave. The cave is important not only as a natural place of interest but also as a historical object. Archaeologists found traces of an ancient people’s site. According to scientists, the cave was used for religious purposes yet in the 4th century BC. Nowadays, visitors of this gorgeous landmark are welcome to admire beautiful stalactites and see traces of ancient people.