EPHESUS TRAVEL - TURKEY EPHESUS

Area 38 sq. km. Distance from Pireas Port: 145 nautical miles. From a distance, Anafi, in the south-east corner of Cyclades, looks like no more than an isolated rock in the ocean. According to the myths, the Argonauts sought refuge from a storm in the island. Archaeological finds have demonstrated that Anafi was inhabited in antiquity. A road leads from the pictures que harbour of Agios Nikolaos up to Hora, the only settlement of any size, built on a naturally amphitheatrical site in the centre of the island. The monastery of Our Lady 'Kalamiotissa' (18th century, standing in the precinct of a temple of Apollo Aegletus), the Venetian castle near Hora, and the church of St. Athanasius are among the special sights. The beaches of Anafi, whether sandy or pebbly, are lapped by crystal-clear water. The local religious feasts are very lively, and so are the island dances.
 

Anafi took its name when Apollo made the island rise from the sea to save the Argonauts from a big storm on their return from Colhis. Another myth tells us that it owes its name (Anef Ofeon=without snakes) to its lack of snakes. Historically, it was first settled by the Phoenicians and later by the Dorians who founded the town of Anafi. In the 5th century BC, it joined the Athenian League. During the Middle Ages, it became part of the Duchy of Naxos and was ruled by several Venetian royal families. In 1537, it was subjugated by the Turks, after it had been ransacked by Barbarossa. It was liberated in 1830 by the Treaty of London, along with the rest of the Cyclades. The Monastery of Zoodohos Pigi was build in 1800s. A large part of the Monastery was destroyed in the 1956 earthquake. Monastery of Panagia Kalamiotisa is astonishingly perched on the eastern peninsula. The Monastery was named so, after an icon of the Virgin Mary was found hanging on a cane (kalami = cane). Very close to the Monastery are the remains of the Temple of Apollo.

ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITE OF KATALIMATSA: In the Katalimatsa region on the south-eastern edge of the island excavations have brought to light the ruins of an ancient city which, in its largest part, is sunk in the sea. It is believed that the ancient port was situated there and concentrated the largest aspect of the financial life of the island.

DRAKONDOSPILO: The celebrated Drakondospilo (Dragon's Cave) stands on Kalamos hill, near the monastery of Panagia Kalamiotissa on the south-eastern side of Anafi. It is of singular beauty because of its great variety of stalactites and stalagmites and is considered one of the most significant sights on the island.

MONASTERY OF PANAGIA KALAMIOTISSA: The Monastery of Panagia Kalamiotissa is situated on the south-eastern edge of the island. It took this name because, according to the tradition, the icon of the Virgin (Panagia) was found on a reed (kalami). The Old Monastery lies next to a cave, which is famous for its stalagmites, on a hillock 450 m high, from where the view is breathtaking. One hour's distance away, the new Kato Monastery was built in the 18th century on the site of which it is believed an ancient temple for Apollo once existed.