Astypalaia

Reminiscent of a butterfly and featuring traditional whitewashed villages, stunning sunsets and fantastic beaches, Travel Weekly writes about Astypalaia

Syrna is not an island you can just go to. It lies practically alone in the north Karpathian Sea, southeast of Astypalaia, with just five tiny islets to keep it company: Mikros and Megalos Adelfos (Small and Big Brother), Mesonisi, Plakida and Stefania. Even a sturdy boat needs clement weather to reach its shores. 

Astypalaia (also spelled Astypalea) has not lost its charm. At the end of spring, this Dodecanese island is still lush and green. The Chora sparkles under the strong Aegean light. Many shops are still closed, and the few tourists enjoy the relaxed atmosphere.

"In recent years, Astypalaia has "invested" in actions to enhance extroversion, thus becoming a pole of attraction for new and "traditional" markets" explains Deputy Mayor of Tourism

There are parts of Greece that were regarded as unlucky until recently because mass tourism hadn't reached them yet. Now we consider them lucky because they are able to evolve in a measured manner. 

One after another, islands that until today were considered alternative or generally far off the beaten track are changing in appearance. Astypalaia is now heading in this direction, with plans to build a new village of tourist residences the size of the island's capital, Chora.

A new section that provides information on key aspects of e-mobility is now available on the website of the Greek Infrastructure & Transport Ministry, it was announced on Wednesday.

Following Halki and Astypalaia, Poros is now poised to become Greece's third "green island" under the GR-Eco Islands initiative. 

But, in practice, how green are the country's "green islands"? The project is currently focused on energy and less polluting transportation, but it doesn't address waste, sewage, or water "production."

Who would imagine that a picturesque whitewashed Greek island against the deep blue of the Aegean Sea would be the site of a cutting-edge electric vehicle project led by the Hellenic Republic in cooperation with the Volkswagen Group?

As the Covid-19 tidal wave sweeps across the planet, the Greek islands are riding out the storm like virus-free life rafts. We didn't think that it was possible, but these little parcels of paradise have become even more irresistible.