Category Archives: Milos & Kimolos info

Milos & Kimolos info

Ancient town of Klima

Archaeological Sights

Ancient town of Klima

In the settlement of Klima you will find the ruins of the old city of Klima which used to be the island’s first port.

After the decline and the destruction of Fylakopi, the Dorians built the second biggest city in the island (1100BC-800BC) extending from the south part of Trypiti to the region of the present Klima town.

Today, you can visit the settlement’s two acropolis: the hill of Prophitis Ilias and Pyrgaki- you can see parts of  the market-place walls, parts of a temple dated from the Hellenistic and Roman period, parts of the ancient theatre, as well as the exact spot where the statue of Aphrodite of Milos was discovered. Descend till the end of Trypiti road towards  the Catacombs, park your car and walk on the path. Initially, you will see the ancient city walls and a bit further away in a area where the gymnasium was supposedly standing, you will find the spot where in 1820 a local farmer discovered the famous statue of the goddess Aphrodite (dated from 120BC). Keep walking on the earth-road and you will get to the ancient Roman theatre.

Additional Info

  • Area:Klima

Mineral Museum

Museums

mining museum
The Mineral Museum of Milos, an urban non-profitable company, was made by S&B Industrial Minerals S.A. in 1998 with the aim to honor and promote the mineral history as well as the geologic and natural heritage of Milos.

Contact tel.: 22870
At the ground-floor room the social, financial and technologic dimension of Milos’s mineral history and tradition is presented. The exhibition on the ground floor is dedicated to the island’s natural and geologic wealth, where the minerals that used to be mined on the island since the Neolithic age are presented all the way to the present day; special emphasis is given on their usage in our everyday life. Complementary, films are projected dealing with the mining and the procedure of the minerals’ production, whereas in the projection room visitors can “travel” back to older periods through the descriptions of the old miners.

The Museum realizes organized geologic walks, whereas in its premises educational programs take place and pedagogic and recreational activities are organized in cooperation with skilled educational carriers and museum-educators. In its 12 years of operation, the Museum has been visited by more than 135,000 people from Greece and abroad, whereas it has become a favorite destination of educational tourism.

Additional Info
Working Hours:1 June – 30 September: 9:00 – 14:00 & 17:00 – 20:30 everyday, Octomber, April & May: 9:30 – 14:00 & 17:30 – 20:30, everyday 1 November – 31 March: Saturday 9:00 – 14:00, Sunday to Friday Requires prior phone communication
Entrance Fee:3€ ( 2€ for people over 65y old, Free for children under 10y old and students
Area:Adamantas
Phone:+ 30 22870 22481
Fax:+30 22870 23984
Webpage:http://www.milosminingmuseum.com
e-mail: info@milosminingmuseum.gr

Church Museum

Museums

church museum
Very close to Adamantas port, the church of The Holy Trinity is located, where the Church Museum is housed.

This church, which is over a thousand years old, is characterized as “crossed-shaped three-aisled basilica with troulokamara (arched-dome)”, since it is made of three aisles on which the dome rises vertically having the shape as the temple. This type of church is very rare (there is only one more such church, in Peloponnesus, in Levidi, Arcadia) and it is an interested architectural monument.

Initially it was made so as to serve as a monastery dedicated to the Virgin Mary of Theofani, but in 1839 it was purchased by Cretan refugees and they turned it into their village’s church. The edges and the arches of its bell-tower are influenced by the gothic patterns, whereas the lintels and the pilasters are decorated with traditional sculptures and religious patterns. In the yard, at the church’s entrance, you will see two mosaics, creations of the local artist Giagos Kavroudakis. These two colorful mosaics are dated from 1937; one of them depicts a dragon in the shape of Milos, whereas the other depicts the battle of the good against the evil.

Ever since 2000 the Church Museum of Milos has been housed in the church of The Holy Trinity, a museum where you are given the chance to admire a great part of the Melian artistic tradition and heritage as well as of the Melian hagiographic tradition. More specifically, you can see icons dated from the 14th century (such as a rare deposition from the cross), works of the Cretan school, works by Emmanuel Skordilis and Antonios Skordilis and Cretan painters, epitaphs and woodcut lecterns, 17th century iconostases, the bishop’s throne, the icon screens, silver chalices, incensories, golden offerings, rings, necklaces, earrings and other exhibits of important artistic value.

Additional Info
Manager:Grigoris Mpelivanakis
Working Hours:Every day: 09:15 – 13:15 & 18:15 – 22:15
Entrance Fee:Free
Area:Adamantas
Phone:+30 22870 23956
e-mail: milosbel@otenet.gr

Naval Museum

Museums

naval museum
The Museum opened up in September 2008 and it is housed over Adamantas harbor, in the building of the island’s old Community.

It was realized by the efforts of the doctor Petros Armenis in order to gather plenty of exhibits relating to the naval activity in Milos. The exhibits go back to the prehistoric age, with tools made of obsidian, then we move historically to the battle of Salamis and finally we reach the modern times.

In the Naval Museum you are given the chance to admire also rare maps, made by special cartographers as well as the wooden boat “Irene”.

Additional Info
Working Hours:09:00 – 14:00
Area:Adamantas
Phone:+30 22873 60100, +30 22870 60105, +30 22870 22445

Folk Museum

Museums

folk museum
The Folklore & History Museum of Milos is located behind the church of Panaghia Korfiatissa in Plaka.
The museum was established in 1967 by the “Union of the Melians in Athens” and there you can learn a lot of things about the life of the Melians after the 17th century (mostly from 1850 up to 1930, which was a peak period for the Melian society).

A visiting to this museum takes back into another time period, as you will see how a city Melian household of the 19th century was like. The museum is not an exact representation of a certain type of a Melian household, but starting from the heterogeneous objects, the aspects of life of the inhabitants in that time period are presented: their dealings inside and outside the house, their influences from other regions, their nutritional and dress preferences, their ways of entertainment, the organizing of space and time and the exploitation of the local resources.

This two-storeyed museum is made of a living-room and the unique exhibits located in it, the work place where the loom is found, the house’s kitchen room, the bedroom, the cellar (used also for the storage of rural products), and the top-floor which constitutes a historic record. In all these rooms you can also admire furniture, textiles, needlework, clothing of that period, house ware, decorative objects, everyday objects and old photographs.

Additional Info
Manager:Tzina Grigoriou
Working Hours:Tuesday – Saturday: 10:00 – 14:00, Monday: Closed
Entrance Fee:3€, Children and Students 1.5€
Area:Plaka
Phone: +30 22870 21292, +30 22870 28121
Cell Phone:+30 6937693794

Triovasalos, Milos

Village,

20130903-183657.jpgTriovasalos and Pera Triovasalos

Setting out from the port and before we reach Plaka, the first villages we find are Triovasalos and Pera Triovasalos.

These two almost continuing villages have been created on two neighboring hills, they are densely populated and amphitheatrically built, whereas they have a considerable commercial activity. In Triovasalos, ‘’Karavodromos’’ constitutes the island’s focal point, where banks, public services, cafeterias and commercial shops are located. Lastly, in Triovasalos and in Pera Triovasalos, you can visit the two significant churches of these villages: the church of Saint Spryindon and the church ofSaint George respectively.

Plakes

Plakes, the small village with the white houses and alleys, is situated between Plaka and Triovasalos. It was built at the foot of the Castle and is name originated from the fact that the region was level (“Plakes” means straightening). Should you go to Plakes, you can visit the island’s church dedicated to Saint Haralabos, where you will see the icon of Panaghia Akradiotissa, one of the island’s oldest icons. Finally, from Plakes you can go easily and quickly to the amazing beach of Plathiena.

Plaka, Milos

Village,

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Nowadays, Plaka is the island’s capital and it is also one of the most intact capitals of Cyclades.

Its name comes from the level ground upon which the houses of its first inhabitants were built, when the Castle (Kastro) could no longer house the entire population.

Built on a hillock of 220m above sea level, with the use of island colors and according to the Cycladic architecture, with picturesque tiled alleys originally built for the protection against pirates, with small traditional shops, restaurants and cafeterias and with a magical view to the bay of Milos, Plaka composes a scenery of infinite beauty that you must visit and explore. (The circulation of cars is forbidden).

On the hill top of Plaka lies the imposing Venetian “Castle” dated from the 13th century from where you can enjoy idyllic sunsets with beautiful colors and the panoramic view to the island’s bay, as well as to neighboring Cycladic islands. The Assumption of the Virgin or else “Mesa Panaghia” is the church to be found on the top of the Castle, whereas climbing up to the Castle and descending from it, you will find another exquisite church built on a black rock: The Ypapanti of Christ or Panaghia Thalassitra. Moreover, do not miss out to visit ‘’Panaghia Korfiatissa” which is the island’s cathedral from where you can enjoy a dreamy sunset right from its marble yard.

Lastly, in the traditional settlement of Plaka, you will find most of the public services and the two museums that preserve the island’s cultural heritage, meaning its archaeological and folkloreheritage.

Ancient Roman Theatre, Tripiti Milos

Archaeological Sights, , ,

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The ancient Roman Theatre was originally constructed by the inhabitants of the ancient city of Klima, possibly during the Hellenistic Age (3rd century BC).

However, after the destruction of the city by the Athenians in Roman times, above the preserved foundations of the classic theater, a bigger one was built made of snow-white Parian marble and remarkable bas-reliefs, which it is estimated that it had a seating capacity of 7000 spectators. This is also the shape of the theater you see nowadays.

From the theatre seven marble tiers, six rows of seats, the auditorium , the orchestra, the stage floor and a lot of architecturally elaborate parts are preserved. The excavations began in 1989, and the order for the theatre’s first cleaning was given by Ludwig II, Othon’s father, at L. Ross’s instigation, who along with Othon was the first one to visit the ancient theater in modern times.

Built on prominent spot, on the hillside, the theatre overlooks the port, the view from there is spectacular and its acoustics are very good. So, quite often theatrical performances and music happenings take place there, as in its present shape  the theater has a seating capacity of 700 spectators.

Additional Info

  • Area:Klima

Archeological Museum, Plaka Milos

Museums, , ,

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The Archaeological Museum of Milos is situated in Plaka and it is housed in a beautiful, neoclassic building by Ernst Ziller.

At the museum the following wonderful collections are exhibited:

A prehistoric collection from Fylakopi
A collection of sculptures and bas-reliefs
An obsidian collection
A collection of inscriptions
A true copy of Aphrodite de Milo rises in the Museum Entrance (Room A), which was made in the workshop of the Louvre Museum. In the left side of the room you can see glass-shown cases with blades, scales and obsidian exfoliates from Fylakopi, Nyhia and Demenegaki. Moreover, in the same room, you can see a large burial jar dated from the 6th century BC.

In the left room (Room B) you can see prehistoric objects dated from the 5th millennium till the end of the 2nd millennium BC. There, you can see glass-shown cases with archaeological findings from ancient Fylakopi, many pots with lilies painted on them , statuettes ,a tufa altar from Fylakopi’s sanctuary, a small collection of marble early Cycladic statuettes and the famous “Kyra of Fylakopi”.

In the small room behind the entrance (Room C) you can admire geometric, archaic, classic, Hellenistic and Roman works, plenty of coins, tools and handy objects.

Closing, reaching the room on the right of the entrance (Room D’), you will see findings from the ancient town of Klima, plenty of sculptures dated form the Hellenistic and Roman period (a Hermaic statue of Marius Trofimos, a tomb bas-relief of a young man with his servant etc.), marble donations and tables of the archaic Melian alphabet (Thanks to the peak the Melians had reached in the historic period, they had developed their own “Melian alphabet” composed of 21 letters).

Additional Info

  • Working Hours:8:00 – 15:00, except for Monday
  • Entrance Fee:3€ (2€ for visitors over 65 years old, free for students and children under 10 years old)
  • Area: Plaka
  • Phone:22870 28026

Adamas Milos

Village,

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This modern seaside village is situated inside the bay of the island, which is one of the biggest and safest natural bays of the Mediterranean sea, and it constitutes the largest tourist center of Milos.

Adamantas is its main port and the first view to look upon when approached by ship.

Built on the north side of the bay, Adamantas or ‘’Alamanto” as it used to be called, has been inhabited since 1824. It was built by Cretan refugees expelled from Sfakia, who came to Milos after their failed and bloody revolution against the Turks. Nowadays, the village numbers around 1100 inhabitants.

This seaside island town is composed of small snow-white houses with small yards decorated with flowers and narrow quite lanes which altogether compose a picture of excellent Cycladic beauty. The village of Adamantas throbs with life in summertime. In this village you can combine relaxation and calmness with night life and entertainment, whereas at the same time everything you need for comfortable and pleasant vacations is provided to you: [there are] cafes, restaurants, ouzeries, pizzerias, grill-houses, fast-foods serving souvlaki, a bar, a club, shopping centers, supermarkets, banks, the port authority, the customs, a health center, a pharmacy, a dental clinic, a newsstand for Greek and international press, etc. Here, the island’s night life is intense with bars playing various kinds of  music that speed up the rhythms and the entertainment tempo till the very break of dawn.

On the port’s left side you can find the parking lot and then the Lagkada quarter with the Lagkada beach, whereas on the port’s right side the main coastal road stretches out leading to the village’s central square where the bus stop lies, and the taxis await you. On the one side of this coastal road, there is a long tiled pavement, cafeterias, restaurants and tourist shops as well as the municipal Hot Springs of Lakkos, whereas on its left side stand the relatively new port facilities which combined with the safety of the natural port, make Adamantas suitable for yachting activities. (From that point also the trips with boats and touring yachts set out reaching for the inaccessible beaches of the island and also for the tour around Milos and Kimolos).

If you desire to swim, Adamantas can offer that to you, too. Within a short distance and accessible without the use of any means of transportation, lie the beaches of Lagkada (500m from the center of Adamantas) and the beaches of Papikinos (1km away from Adamantas).

Finally, the sights of Adamantas  include also : the church of The Assumption of the Virgin, the catholic church of Saint Nikolaos, the Mineral Museum and the Church Museum where the one thousand year old church of The Holy Trinity is housed.

Archaeological Sight of Phylakopi

Archaeological Sights, , ,

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On the way to Pollonia, on your left, you will see findings from the ancient city of Fylakopi, which used to be one of the most important settlements of the Cycladic civilization and the most significant Aegean city in prehistoric times.

In Fylakopi you can see 2 millennium year old remnants. There are habitation traces from the beginning of the Early Bronze Age (around 3000BC) until the end of the Late age (1100BC). Built on the island’s north part, so as to provide the possibility for surveillance to a big part of the sea, Fylakopi developed into a significant commercial and cultural center. Because of the trading  of the obsidian precious stone, it developed rapidly, it became a strong city with Cyclopean walls against the invaders. It was destroyed and it was rebuilt three times.

The settlement’s habitation had begun already from 3000BC., and the city was abandoned in 1100BC, having lasted three historic periods. In pre-residential age (3200BC-2300BC), the construction of houses commenced. In the 1st historic age (2300-2000BC), the settlement was of around 200meters (considered large, based on the facts of those times in the Aegean area), there was no organized town planning disposition, but it had a relatively organized cemetery. Simultaneously, in that time period the stone usage was discovered and the obsidian exports increased significantly, hence, a total commercial flourishing took place  in Milos. In the 2nd period (2000BC-1600BC) walls were built for protection against possible invasions, the tombs were already located outside the city walls, whereas the houses were situated in a terraced disposition on the hill. In that period, the ceramic art was specially developed presenting clear Minoan influences and the commercial relations of the Melians were further developed in various areas in Greece and mainly in Crete. That period ended with the destruction of Fylakopi, possibly by fire set by invaders, and the city’s 3rdhistoric period (1600BC-1110BC) began with the building of the third settlement. In that last period Fylakopi had an organized, complex, town planning, a fortification with high Cyclopean walls of over 6metres in width and bigger houses, some of which were two-storeyed. At the beginning of this period, the Minoan civilization influence was intense (parts of a Minoan Linear A table were discovered), but gradually elements of the Mycenaean culture penetrated and in the end they prevailed. In around 1400 a palace according to the Mycenaean architecture was built with a lot of rooms and a two-room sanctuary. Moreover, greats works of sculpture and ceramic art were made, the most important of which was the statue of “Kyra of Fylakopi”. (It is in exhibition in the Archaeological Museum of Milos). Since 1200BC in the Aegean area, there had been reorganizations, well-known commercial routes were abandoned, whereas both the Minoan and the Mycenaean civilization were in decline. In that period, the city of Fylakopi stopped being a commercial center and began to decline, whereas the ancient city of Klima became the commercial center where all the island’s activities took place.

Today, the largest part of the city lies under the surface of the sea, but it is worth visiting it so as to admire the remnants of the imposing Cyclopean walls of the settlement (made of volcanic stones), the Sanctuary,  and the settlement’s Palace. Until the present day, numerous findings are preserved suggesting the activities of the settlement’s inhabitants and the frequent contact network, mostly with the rest of the Cycladic islands and Crete, whereas visiting the Archaeological Museum you can see remarkable items of ceramic art from the city of Fylakopi, such as earthen pots, stone, earthen and bronze statuettes, a Linear A table, diverse handy objects and the famous statue of “Kyra of Fylakopi”.

Additional Info

  • Working Hours:8:30 – 15:00, every day
  • Entrance Fee:Free
  • Area:Filakopi
  • Phone:+30 22870 41290