Cyclades
Islands
: Amorgos, Andros,
Folegandros, Ios,
Kea, Kythnos,
Milos, Mykonos,
Naxos, Paros
and Antiparos, Santorini,
Sifnos, Serifos,
Sikinos, Syros,
Tinos
Northern
Aegean Islands:
Chios, Ikaria,
Limnos, Lesvos,
Samos, Samothraki,
Thassos
Ionian
Islands:
Corfu (Kerkyra), Ithaki,
Kefalonia, Kythera,
Lefkada, Paxos,
Zakynthos
Saronic
Islands:
Aegina, Angistri,
Poros, Hydra,
Salamina, Spetsis
Sporades
Islands:
Alonissos, Skiathos,
Skopelos, Skyros
Dodecanese
Islands:
Astypalia, Halki,
Kalymnos, Karpathos,
Kassos, Kastellorizo,
Kos, Leros,
Nisyros, Patmos,
Rhodes, Symi,
Tilos
Other
Islands:
Crete, Evia,
Cyprus
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Dodecanese Islands - Tilos
Tilos is labeled Episkopi, or “lookout,”
by many medieval mapmakers
because of its many watchtowers strategically placed in
high mountains, perfect lookout spots for viewing Mediterranean
traffic. Tilos is considerably larger
than some of the Dodecanese islands, but because of
its very thin and dry soil and rocky terrain, it has the
smallest population. But Tilos does have ruined walls
from ancient times, signs that once things were much more
prosperous here. Men and women still wear costumes from
four hundred years ago in their daily lives, and farms
are often still worked with relatively primitive methods.
But Tilos is remote, seen as very out of the way, and
it once housed a leper colony. Ships avoided it then,
and it seems that the avoidance of Tilos has become a
tradition.
Though Tilos is blessed with excellent natural harbors,
it has relatively barren fishing grounds. Tilos’s
wealth is in its beauty and unspoiled nature. On its high
mountains wind paths that tourists can ride on donkeys;
and from these paths hundreds of clear lookout points
allow you to see for miles. Breathtaking views below,
of the town of Tilos, of the Mediterranean, of the
beaches and the ruins, are there for those who discover
this relatively remote island. Because Tilos also does
not offer a great deal of archaeological
history to travelers, tourists have not really discovered
it.
But for those who really want an adventure, Tilos is
perfect. It has the clear seas, the protected harbors,
and white rocky beaches that make so much of Greece picturesque.
Its inhabitants are both poor and friendly toward Americans
and other tourists, which can make a visit here excellent
in terms of hospitality found.
Local women have preserved ancient techniques of embroidery
and needlework, and do not mind showing it off or selling
it to visitors. Many families have art, needlework,
and other family crafts that have been in their families
for many generations; though they will proudly show them
off to you, it might be considered rude if you try to
buy heirlooms.
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