Family trip to Ios Island with children. Ideas on where to go with your child

Ios is not a large island. Its width is 10 kilometres and the length is about 20. There are not many amusements parks and cinemas, but your child won't be bored on the island. Ios gives the opportunity to enjoy the atmosphere of the island and to know more about the history of Antiquity. If your child is tired of excursions and museums, he can try snorkelling or yachting.

Here you can introduce the child to the biography and work of Homer, the greatest poet of Ancient Greece. Ios is directly connected with this legendary figure because Homer’s mother lived here. Moreover, he was buried here according to ancient historians. You can show the child the tomb of the famous poet and also acquaint the child with the history of Hellas, described in the Iliad. Furthermore, visit the Archaeological Museum of Chora to explore the history of ancient settlers.

The Archaeological Museum was founded in 1998 and it has a rich collection of weapons and household items found during excavations. Most of the findings were found at the ancient city of Ios, situated at the present location of Chora. Agia Theodoti is a village where you can see the buildings of the Hellenistic era. There are remains of an ancient tower from the Hellenistic period and traces of an ancient aqueduct near the hill. There are also two water tanks called Tholo and Tholaki from the Frankish period. You can visit Psati, where you can see the ruins of a Greek temple. There is one more ancient tower in Plakoto. Copyright www.orangesmile.com

Fans of fairy tales about princesses, dragons and knights and young historians will be certainly interested in the fortress built during the reign of the Venetians on Ios. You can find it near the Paleokastro. The construction hasn’t preserved well, but you can distinguish the main parts of the fortification. If your child has read legendary «Don Quixote», he will be happy to see ancient windmills near the capital.

Many children will like the local churches. The most outstanding religious buildings on the island are the temples of St. Catherine and John the Baptist. If your child is indifferent to religion, he may be interested in rich and skillfully made interior decoration of the churches. Young connoisseurs of art should visit the Museum of Modern Art at Kolitsani. There is a remarkable collection of works of Jean Marie Dro and other artists. You can visit the museum in summer and admire art and photo exhibitions. If your child is keen on photography, it is worth spending a couple of days on a hiking trip around the island. There are a lot of astonishing views that every photographer wants to capture.

All the five beaches in Manganari Bay are perfect for family holidays. The crystal clear water deepens very slowly and there is a playground close to the bay. Kolitsani and Kalamos are secluded beaches near Agia Theodoti. Chora is not the best place for children. The city is a centre of nightlife on the island. Spend some time and go on a sea trip around Ios. There are picturesque places, where you can get only by sea. Teenagers can try their hand at waterskiing, diving and windsurfing and small children will enjoy swimming in crystal water.