The island festivals have always been a good opportunity to experience a genuine traditional fete with plenty of music, dancing and local delicacies. The island smartens up, the streets and cobbled streets are whitewashed and the locals, with great joy open their doors to visitors, who relish the Greek hospitality.
Blog
Read our blog for insights about the history, culture, gastronomy, and festivals of Astypalea, as well as tips for the island, and get inspired for your next trip.
As an artist best known for colourful paintings of foreign landscapes, part of my work schedule is travelling somewhere new every year to sketch and take photographs for source material. In the 1980s and 1990s, my wife and I went to many different Greek islands. We decided to visit Astypalea in 1994 despite the long and fairly arduous journey from Scotland.
A UNIQUE EXPERIENCE YOU SHOULD NOT MISS DURING YOUR TIME IN GREECE
It’s often said that you get to truly know a place, once you’ve met the people who call it their home. Once you hear their stories and share their happiness. Once you’ve spent time together and put every day worries behind you.
The Castle was Astypalea’s only settlement until the 19th century. Some barns were attached at its outskirts; structures that served various purposes for the villagers, whilst others were found near the farming fields which better served the farmers. Some pens catered to the stockbreeders' needs.
