Folegandros, an island in the Aegean Sea, is one of the most beautiful islands among those of the Cyclades cluster. It is still untouched by the crowds of visitors inundating Greece’s islands in the summertime and, thanks to its mild tourism development, Folegandros has retained the grandeur of its natural wealth and the human dimension of its tiny, yet lively and vibrant communities.

Its cliffs and beaches, its sights and events, not to mention the locals themselves who always have a genuinely warm welcome for visitors, compose a place that is veritably unique: a place that beckons to those who want to try new flavors, to take strolls and hikes of a different kind, to distance themselves from everything, and to live life to its fullest. Port of arrival on Folegandros is Karavostasis, which experienced a generous makeover in summer 2008 and now boasts an attractive waterfront with cafes and taverns. Two beaches straddle the finger of land that accommodates the port and its environs, the more westerly of the two being superior. After undertaking a short transfer of 10 minutes, you alight in the cliff-top village of Hora, a completely different world. It is no exaggeration to describe Hora as one of the most beautiful, traditional villages of its kind in the Greek islands. Non-essential traffic is barred from the inner village. The views are superb, exaggerated more so when the effort is made to climb that bit higher on the path from the village to the church of Kimisis Theotokou.