Table of Contents:
CYCLADIC ARCHITECTURE.
THE ISLAND
THE BEACHES.
See Mykonos, the island of the winds that the gods made for man. There is almost no ancient architecture you can see. A few foundation outlines of a village dating to 5000 BC are visible on Ftelia Beach. If you do not know what you are looking for, you will miss it.
There is some less-ancient architecture from the Byzantine period. But it’s not much more than a wall here and the base of a tower over there. Some of them are on private property.
To see ancient sites, you need to visit the island of Delos, a ferry ride away from Mykonos. So there is nothing to see on Mykonos? I’m not saying that. However, it will be different than what you see on some of the other islands. Explore, and you will see Mykonos has its charms.
See Mykonos Cycladic Architecture.
The Cycladic Islands are a somewhat circular chain of islands east of Athens in the central Aegean Sea. The architecture of the Cycladic Islands is intriguing but straightforward. At first glance, they seem generic and in no logical order.
One of the reasons the walls are so thick was to ward off an invasion. Pirates and other invaders were a constant concern to the people of these islands. The minimum wall in most buildings is two feet thick and made of stone. A man’s home was his fortress. The thickness also regulates the heat and coolness inside.
Keep in mind through all of this, the architecture is practical, only giving people what they need. Being a semi-dry island, trees (lumber) are scarce and do not grow to great heights. However, they have lots of rocks. How many wooden houses do you see?
Most of the houses have a south-eastern orientation to get light. Also, you will find a small window on the north to capture the breeze off the water. This is especially important in July and August, the hottest months in Greece.
Was There a Sale on White paint?
Some people will tell you the houses are white to reflect the hot sun. At two feet thick, this is not that important to stone walls.
Others explain the white walls because in 1936, Ioannis Metaxas, a prime minister, ordered them to be painted that color.
We are talking about Greece, the land of history, myth, and traditions, so who knows what is factual. By 1936, we know that houses were already white. That puts some doubt as to this being the reason for the white houses.
The Secret to Brighter Whites.
Now is an excellent time to stop and say, none of the houses have white paint. WHAT? It is a plaster they make out of easily accessible (and inexpensive) lime, salt, and water.
And its application was not for vanity’s sake. It was put on buildings and trees to ward off insects. The lime repulses them. When did this start? Maybe during the 1812 plague that wiped out up to 70% of the population on some of the islands. They had to evacuate some islands during this time.
Tradition holds that Greeks painted their doors and windows blue in honor of the Greek flag. This act is a thumbing of their noses at the Ottomans who were occupying Greece. If you know the relationship between the Greeks and Turks, you know there is probably some truth in this.
The Ottomans were in Greece until 1821, so this fits in with the 1812 epidemic. The plague outbreak in 1892 does not. As you can see, Mykonos’ history is a little hazy.
Mykonos White Wins.
By 1936, most buildings are sporting lime-based plaster. It appears that Metaxas did not say everyone has to whitewash their houses. He said they need to be white with blue trim. This plan was for uniformity instead of a cacophony of colors.
It represents the Greek flag, or the sea and sky depending on who you ask.
In the 1950s, the queen is to choose a photo for the cover of the national tourism brochure.
She selects an image of whitewashed buildings with blue trim. Was it a successful campaign? What picture comes to your mind when I say Greek Isles?
What’s Going on With the Streets?
You will see Mykonos streets seem to have no thought or direction. On the contrary, the maze-like layout was to confuse the invaders. This maze gave the locals a head start if they had to flee. It also follows the natural topography of the land. In the beginning, the construction of the houses is of stone. They did not paint the rocks so they would blend into the hillsides.
So there is NOTHING simple about Cycladic architecture. Stop and study it. It is a puzzle. Enjoy it.
See Mykonos Island
Although not the rolling hills of Tuscany, or purple mountains majesty, the island has its charm.
Outside of mid-June to mid-September, the small country roads make great hiking trails. As the island is not as mountainous as some others, most roads would equate to a hike of medium difficulty. On the south shore, you will see Mykonos has extreme elevation changes.
See Mykonos Beaches.
Besides the nightlife, Mykonos is famous for its beaches. Whether you are looking for solitude or the center of attention, there is a beach for everyone.
On the west coast, you have Ayios Ioannis (Shirley Valentine Beach), which is excellent for families and sunsets.
See Mykonos Summary.
Yes, the island, like many others is changing. There are parts that look nothing like they did 25 years ago on my first visit.
But don’t give up. There are still some great nooks if you look for them.
You will see Mykonos is only a party island if you want it to be.