Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
HOMER'S TOMB
Homer's tomb
can be reached by car or motorbike (signposted from the road to Ayía
Theodhóti, 4.5km from Hóra). An ancient town has long since slipped down the side of the
cliff, but the rocky ruins of the entrance to a tomb remain, as well as some graves. There is
certainly an ancient tradition, from Pausanias and Pliny, that Homer was buried on the
island; furthermore, Hellenistic coins from Íos bear his name and his head. However, it was
Dutch archeologist Pasch van Krienen who first discovered these tombs in 1771 and
immediately claimed one of them as Homer's - in reality, though, it probably dates only to
the Byzantine era.
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further on with a cove backed by extraordinary green cliffs and a rocky islet to explore.
Its western-facing setting and string of palm trees makes it ideal to watch the sunset,
and attracts many amateur photographers.
On the south coast, there's a superb beach at
Manganári
easily reached by boat or bus
(see p.425). Another decent beach is at
Kálamos
: get off the Manganári bus at the
turning for Kálamos, which leaves you with a 4km walk, else take a
kaïki
from Yialós.
here's more to see, and a better atmosphere, at
Ayía Theodhóti
up on the east coast.
You can get there on a paved road across the island - the daily excursion bus costs €6
return. A couple of kilometres south of Ayía Theodhóti is
Paleókastro
, a ruined
Venetian castle which encompasses the remains of a marble-finished town and a
Byzantine church.
In the unlikely event that the beach is too crowded, try the one at
Psáthi
, 14km to
the southeast, although you may need your own transport.
EATING
BEACHES
KUMBÁRA
Polídoros
T
22860 92072.
This grill taverna is one of the
better places to eat on Íos offering coal-grilled meats and
local specialities such as pork with celery casserole (€12).
Unfortunately, it has a very short opening season.
Mid-
June to mid-Sept daily noon-10pm.
AYÍA THEODHÓTI
Koukos
T
22860 92420.
A very good family restaurant,
rated highly by the locals, because it offers produce such as
honey, milk products, eggs and chickens from its own farm
next door (mains €8). Accompanied by bread baked in a
wood-fired oven, organic food never tasted so good.
May-
Sept daily noon-8pm.
Síkinos
SÍKINOS
has so small a population - around 240 - that the mule ride or walk from the
port up to the capital was only replaced by a bus in the late 1980s. At roughly the same
time the new jetty was completed; until then Síkinos was the last major Greek island
where ferry passengers were still taken ashore in launches. With no dramatic
characteristics and no nightlife to speak of, few foreigners make the short trip over here
from neighbouring Folégandhros or Íos. The end result, however, is the most unspoilt
rural countryside in the Cyclades where the clichéd image of a priest riding a donkey
can suddenly materialize from over a hill.
ARRIVAL AND INFORMATION
SÍKINOS
By ferry
Ferries dock at the far end of the port of
Aloprónia. There are fewer connection options than in
many of the neighbouring islands.
Destinations
Anáfi (2-4 weekly; 3hr); Folégandhros (6-8
weekly; 40min); Íos (4-6 weekly; 30min); Kéa/Kýthnos/
Lávrio (1 weekly; 8-12hr); Kímolos (1-2 weekly; 2hr);
Kýthnos (2 weekly; 7hr 30min); Mílos (3 weekly; 3hr);
Mýkonos (2 weekly; 5hr 30min); Náxos (3-5 weekly; 2hr
30min); Páros (3-6 weekly; 3hr); Pireás (2-3 weekly;
6-7hr); Santoríni (5-7 weekly; 2hr); Sífnos (2 weekly; 2hr
30min); Sýros (3-5 weekly; 4-7hr).
Services
There is a bank with an ATM in Kástro, while the
post office is at the entrance to Kástro.
