Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
tomato sauce is lovely washed down with a glass of retsina. They also have rooms to
rent.
A signposted turn-off leads to the quiet settlement of
Agios Antonios
. A further 3km
west is the undeveloped, pretty
Plaka Beach
. It's situated in a cove where the water is
slightly warmer and has natural shade in the afternoon. Once you wade in a little, the
rock shelves are good for snorkelling.
NISYROS ΝΙΣΥΡΟΣ
POP 950
Intimate and photogenic, Nisyros is eclipsed by nearby Kos - good news for the inde-
pendent traveller. It's most famous for the otherworldly 'Stefanos' caldera (volcano
crater), which gives rise to the island's fertility; drawing botanists and gardeners from
around the world to see its unique flora. Today, it sits like an abandoned Star Trek set.
Nisyros' main town of Mandraki is a languid maze of whitewashed alleys radiating
from the aquamarine harbour, vividly strung with drying octopus. The black and volcanic
beaches are nothing spectacular; this is more a place for exploring dazzling hilltop vil-
lages like Nikea and Emborios, hiking a little and sampling the local produce.
Keep an eye out for
koukouzina,
a drink produced from grapes and figs.
