Lonely Planet

CYCLADESThey may be just over the water from the well-troddenroads of Athens, but the Cyclades islands offer theperfect opportunity to venture off the beaten trackFROM TOP Kea’s capital Ioulida; amarble-paved street in Pyrgos, on Tinos;Panormos harbour, Tinos; thedouble-sided Kolona Beach on KythnosMore than 200 islands make up the Cyclades archipelago,including tourist hot spots Mykonos and Santorini, buthead beyond those popular destinations and you’ll berewarded with comparatively unspoiled, unpeopled havens.The impeccable architecture of Tinos, the verdant valleysof Kea and the idyllic beaches of Kythnos beckon from theglistening Aegean Sea. Discover what they have to offer bytaking a dip into the unknown that you’ll never forget.``````THE GATE OF THE CYCLADESKEAPartly because it’s only an hour’s ferryfrom Athens’s Lavrio port, Kea (Tzia tothe locals) has a burgeoning holiday-homecommunity clustered along its picturesquecoastline. Stay away from the peak summerweekends, however, and the capital,Ioulida, can still feel like a peaceful retreat,sprawling across two hilltops with itsmaze-like paths and a patchwork of pastel-coloured houses. The island offers goldensandy beaches, tucked-away chapels andpretty fishing villages, as well as a vibrantnightlife. Stop for dinner at one of its rustictavernas, which serve up local specialitiesaccompanied by traditional red wine.``````BE INSPIREDTINOSTinos’s welcoming port-town capital, Hora,is crowned by the glorious Church of PanagiaEvangelistria (Panagia Tinou). Tinos is thecentre of marble craftsmanship in modernGreece, and the birthplace of numerous local``````craftsmen andacclaimed artists.Every village here is amasterpiece. Visitors canchoose between wandering stonepaths and museums, and swimmingin spring-water oases between the ruggedmountainsides. Tinos has also become aprime gastronomic destination, with anabundance of freshly caught fish, the famousTinian veal and locally grown vegetables.``````WADE INKYTHNOSLying west of tourism hub Mykonos isKythnos, home to some of the Cyclades’most under-appreciated beaches. KolonaBeach is particularly inviting because ofits unique double-bay landscape in whicha thin strip of sand acts as a peninsula toan offshore islet. On the far north of theisland is the old capital, Kastro Orias, amedieval ruin of a city once inhabitedby 5,000 people, atop a rugged stonehill, with a boundless coastal view.Plan your trip to Greece’s undiscoveredislands by visiting visitgreece.grlong story short``````Vo l a x , T i n o sIn central Tinos lies the smallvillage of Volax, located on a plateausurrounded by large, almost perfectlyround boulders that make youfeel like you’re on anotherplanet entirely.UNDISCOVERED®Photographs: Municipality Of TinosADVERTISEMENT FEATURE