Astypalea the Butterfly Island ideal for a peaceful holiday
Overview & Reasons to visit
Astypalea also spelt Astypalaia is shaped like a butterfly hence the nickname. The island lies to the west of the other Dodecanese islands and east of the Cyclades. It has a population of around 1400 almost all of who live in the immediate vicinity of Chora. Access is limited to occasional internal flights and ferries so tourism is limited and low key.The main town consists of Chora the original capital and the newer area of Pera Gialos. Chora and its Venetian castle sprawl picturesquely down a steep hill to the port.The atmosphere is relaxed and quiet,there are plenty of good tavernas,coffee shops and low key bars in the main town and in the small beach resorts of Livadi and Maltezana (Analipsi)
Ideal for a quiet relaxing stay with a pretty town and a scattering of uncommercialised beaches. There are local buses which run to most of places on the island and the new Astybus service
How to reach
There are limited ways of getting to Astypalea,there are no direct flights.
Sky Express fly from Athens and Leros but places are limited.
Blue Star have a 4 times a week service from Piraeus which takes 8-10 hours and arrives inconveniently in middle of the night.
Dodecanese Seaways have a three times a week service up until end of October from Kos.
SAOS may also run a once a week Summer service from Rhodes via Kos
Travelling Around
Astypalea has a number of transport island bearing in mind the island is only 18 km long with one main road.
There are plenty of car & bike hire companies in Pera Gialos
The local buses run regularly from Livadi through Chora and Pera Gialos then along the coast past Marmari & Steno beaches to Maltezana.
There is also the unique AstyBus service which is a bus service using Volkwagen ID Buzz electric minibuses you book through an app and you get picked up and taken to your destination at a very reasonable price, more expensive than the normal bus but cheaper than a taxi.
Boat Hire is available and there are trips to the nearby islands
Sights & Beaches
The obvious sight is the Venetian castle which is reached via a labyrinth of small roads and passages and gives marvellous views of Chora, Pera Gialos in one direction and views of the nearby islands and across to Livadi.The road up into Chora passes the windmills in the centre of Chora
There is a small beach in Pera Gialos then a succession of beaches on the road to Maltezana including Marmari and Steno all have sunbeds and a cantina. Maltazana has a long sandy/pebble beach fringed with tamarisk tree as well as a small harbour but if you walk further along the road there are more beaches and the Hippolyte Bisson Memorial to French Navy officer who had an unfortunate encounter with Maltese pirates
History
The Minoans appear to be the first recorded inhabitants and in common with the rest of the Dodecanese islands were replaced by the Mycenaeans.
During the Classical Age Astypalea was allied to Athens and enjoyed a degree of prosperity. the Romans occupied the island but left little trace. The Byzantines then ruled the islands and Christianity became the the main religion until the Venetian Querini family held the island until 1522 and built the castle which dominates Chora. Astypalea was conquered by the Ottoman Empire in 1522, and remained under Ottoman control until 1912. Italy took control of the island along with many of the Greek islands,followed by the Germans after Italy surrendered in 1943. Control of the island fell to the British at the end of WW2 and finally Astypalea became part of Greece in 1947
Links
Link to Astybus site for app download and information
Link to Volkwagen project Astypalea: smart and sustainable island
Link to Dodekanisos Seaways