3/6/2023 0 Comments Agena greeceHistorically home to sailors and fishermen, Aegina is a popular weekend getaway for Athenians, and the harbor was lined with luxury yachts worth more than most of us will make in an entire lifetime. ![]() Instead, the Captain chose to head south from the port of Piraeus, sweeping around the Saronic Islands. Though the sun was beaming down intensely and the skies were a deep shade of Mediterranean blue, the changing seasons brought winds and 6-foot swells that would’ve turned the classic schooner into a rollicking roller coaster ride. Unfortunately, the mid-October weather was not on our side. The original plan was to board the Galileo, a 40-passenger Variety Cruises yacht, and set sail for the Cyclades, an archipelago of islands in the South Aegean Sea. We learned this lesson first-hand when we visited Aegina Island, located in the Saronic Gulf 17 miles (27 km) from Athens. Take walking shoes as there are some wonderful walks abandoned hill-top villages, ancient olive groves, and a mountain trail to the top of Mount Oros with its fantastic sea views & pistachio.Sometimes, the happy accidents of travel are far more rewarding than our planned intentions. Spring and autumn are excellent times of the year to visit, and Aegina is reputed to have the mildest climate in Greece. Weekends are very full and noisy, and the harbor fills with yachts and day trippers. ![]() Visit the Aegina Scuba Diving Club located in Aghia Marina High Season The clean, crystalline waters of Aegina are excellent for diving and dolphins are often sighted. Aegina is also ideal for cycling.ĭon't miss seeing the fish-market, the traditional restaurants that serve” mezes” with ouzo and the fishing boats, moored at the harbor that are turned into an outdoor green grocer, selling fruit and vegetables. Take a ride on the horse drawn carriages, walk in the narrow, paved streets and see the traditional and Neo-classical houses, the churches with the blue domes and the shops with folk art. Otherwise, grab a bed with umbrella somewhere more organised where drinks and snacks can be delivered to you whilst you recline. Beach life can be simply enjoyed by finding a quiet spot for you, your towel and book. There are several sandy beaches on the island. The Peloponnese is where most of the major archaelogical sites are located and the beautiful Venetian town of Nafplion can be explored. In high season, there is a ferry service to Ancient Epidavros each evening for the summer arts festival held at the ancient amphitheatre. In addition to day trips to the neighboring islands of Poros or Hydra there are regular ferries, catamarans and water taxis that can take you the short 20 mins distance to Kosta or Porto Heli on the Peloponnese mainland. Aegina is particularly well known for its ceramics and two of Greece's most distinguished contemporary ceramicists, Theodora Xorafa and Margarita Eglisiarchou have their studios on the island. From Piraeus, the Flying Dolphin takes 40 minutes and in the summer time they run every half hour.Īegina is a favourite island for many Athenians and in the last few years, several really chic shops have sprung up mostly around the harbour area of Aegina Town. From there, you can take a taxi to the Port of Piraeus. The nearest airport is Athens International Airport. ![]() During Classical times, the island was a major power in competition with Athens who, attacked in 459 BC, ddestrying Aegina’s fleet and ending its glory days. It boasts one of the Aegean’s finest archaeological monuments the beautiful Temple of Aphaia. The island has been famed for its pistachios since antiquity and offers a wide range of them served in all imaginable ways. For those with cabin fever, or without a novel to finish, you can easily leave for day trips to Athens, the other Saronic islands and the Peloponnese.Īegina is a fertile and verdant island, full of pines and olives, small villages, and a few good public beaches. One visitor who was charmed by Aegina was Nikos Kazantzakis, who loved the island, and was living there when he wrote Zorba the Greek. The beauty of the landscape, the hospitality of the inhabitants and the rich archaeological material charm most visitors who set foot on this bright, colourful little island. As with all small fishing villages it gets very popular as a weekend destination. Enter into the crescent harbour of Aegina town with fishing boats, fruit-filled caiques, and glamorous yachts jostling for position. ![]() The frequent hydrofoil service means that it also serves as a commuter island to Athens, as well as being a weekend home to many artists, painters, singers, writers, who all value its picturesque town and joyful adherence to its traditional identity. Only a 40 minute hydrofoil ride from the port of Piraeus, Aegina is an easy and relaxing island in the Saronic Gulf.
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