Explore Anafi
According to the greek mythology, Anafi emerged from the sea to provide shelter to Argonauts on their return voyage from the Golden Fleece.
Indeed Anafi, a hidden gem of the Aegean Sea is a paradise untouched by massive tourism. Although it is located about 22 km east of the cosmopolitan Santorini, it has maintained its traditional charm and a slow paced lifestyle. Anafi is the ideal place for those who are looking for quiet and authentic vacations in nature. Visitors will be amazed by the volcanic landscape and the raw beauty of the island.
The beautiful Hora of Anafi, that originates from medieval times, is built amphitheatrically above the port of Aghios Nikolaos at an altitude of 260 meters. Built on the remains of a venetian castle, Hora is a traditional village with the distinctive white washed dome-roofed houses and narrow cobbled alleys that lead to the castle. The biggest part of Hora is off limits to vehicles and visitors can wander around, cycle or go donkey-ridding exploring the village and admiring the byzantine churches and the fortress.
Beaches: Anafi is renowned for its beautiful sandy beaches with crystal waters that charm nature lovers with their exotic beauty. Starting from the southern part of the island, you can visit the beach of Klisidi, that is the nearest to the port bay. It is a long sandy beach with palm trees in the background. In Klisidi you can enjoy the sea and a delicious meal in one of the taverns that surround the main road. The most famous sandy beach of the island is Megalos Roukounas, the biggest beach of Anafi with a length of 400m. Further on, the small beautiful beach of Aghii Anargyri is a sandy beach surrounded by high cliffs and named after the small nearby church. The beach will captivate you with its unique natural beauty and the view to the imposing monolith of Kalamos. If you prefer a more secluded area, then the ideal option is the beach of Kameni Lagada, to the west of Hora, under the Golden Beach Resort Anafi. In this small pebbled beach you will be amazed by the raw beauty of the remote landscape and you will enjoy calmness and privacy.
Gastronomy: Anafi’s dishes reflect the philosophy of the Cycladic cuisine, where most recipes are inspired by simple local ingredients. The produce may not always be rich, but the ingredients are delicious thanks to the unique climate and the volcanic soil of the island. Some of the famous local products are the thyme honey with its characteristic color and aroma, the tasty goat cheese, the petrombarmbouna (red mullets) and the exquisite strofyliatiko wine. The traditional specialties that you will taste in Anafi include goat meat cooked in the oven, handmade pasta with lobster, paragemista (pies with honey and sesame), xerotigana (dough strips fried in oil and topped with honey sesame ) and koufeto, a traditional sweet made with honey and almond.
History: The small island of Anafi has a rich history that dates back to the ancient era. According to mythology, Anafi emerged from the Aegean Sea when Jason prayed to Apollo to save Argonauts from the storm, during their return to Iolkos after having obtained the Golden Fleece. In honor of Apollo, the Argonauts built a temple dedicated to the god of music and light and named the island “Anafi”, that means that it suddenly appeared (“anefani”=appeared, in ancient Greek). Remains of the Apollo temple are found near the Monastery of Panagia Kalamiotissa. Around the 8th century BC Anafi was colonized by the Dorians and later on was conquered by Athens. During the Middle Ages, the island was under the rule of Venetian royal families and on 1207 AD it came under the Frankish empire. A characteristic monument of that era is the Castle of Krispi, on the hill of the island’s Chora. In the 14th century Anafi was conquered by the Ottomans who established a severe regime for almost 4 centuries. Anafi was finally liberated by the Turkish occupation in 1830. At the time the economy of the island was really weak and that is why the inhabitants had to migrate to Greece’s capital, Athens. Most of them were settled in a neighborhood in Plaka that was named Anafiotika and built a cycladic settlement with the characteristic white-washed houses. Today, Anafiotika is the most charming and picturesque area in the center of Athens.
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