Area: 97 sq. km., Population: 1,030, Capital: Astypalaia, 

How to get there: By ship from Piraeus, the Cyclades; Crete and the other Dodecanese.

HISTORY: Archaeological finds show that the island was first settled by Carians long before the age of written history and that it knew great prosperity in antiquity. Otherwise, it seems to have shared the fate of the other Dodecanese, experiencing both Roman and Byzantine rule. Claimed by Venice in 1207, it fell to the Turks in 1540. It was occupied by the Italians from 1912 to 1945 and united with Greece two years later.

SIGHTSEEING: The capital, built like an amphitheatre up the slopes of a steep hill topped by the 13th century Venetian castle, is in itself the island’s chief monument. The picture is completed by the windmills standing to the south of the town. Astypalaia boasts one of the loveliest churches in the Dodecanese – the Panayia Portaitissa, and there are two other beautiful churches in the fortress. In the 9th century, the Byzantine castle of Agios loannis was built on the west side of the island, while to the east can be seen the important monastery of the Panayia Poulariani. Consisting of two sections joined by an isthmus, Astypalaia is a sparsely settled island with little tourism. It has thus retained its genuine Greek atmosphere, and this plus its splendid, spotless beaches and the uninhabited islets nearby, which can be reached by caique, are good reasons for choosing the island for a restful, relaxing holiday.