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Small
Cyclades (pronounced Mikres Kyklades in Greek) are tiny, beautiful
islands at the East side of Cyclades. Peaceful, small, with golden
beaches, light blue and green landscapes, are surrounded by the
deep blue waters of the Aegean Sea. Small Cyclades are Donousa,
Koufonisia,
Scoinousa
and Erakleia.
At
the east of Naxos is Donousa. The small harbours and the special
perfume of cedars compose the unique beauty of that island. The
white houses form four small picturesque settlements. The port,
Donousa or Stavros, is at the south-west, Messaria and Mersini are
at the south-east and Kalotaritissa at the north. You may visit
Fokospilia and Piyi, near Mersini, Spilia tou Toihou between Ksylompatis
and Aspros Kavos and you can enjoy the sunset from the Church of
Panayia.
Koufonisia
are at Naxos' south. They are three small islands with magnificent
beaches and lonely bights: Pano Koufonisi, Kato Koufonisi and Keros.
Golden sand and spotless waters are their main characteristics.
Pano Koufonisi is the island with the most residents. Sea caves,
small beaches and beautiful bays will attract you, while you will
also visit the churches of Ayios Yeoryios and Ayios Nicolaos. Kato
Koufonisi has almost no population. However, on the 15th August
of each year, it is submerged by pilgrims of Virgin Mary. The small
Church of Panayia is built on ruins of an ancient temple. The most
southern of the three Koufonisia is the uninhabited islet of Keros.
On this rocky point of the Aegean were discovered the eminent statuettes-symbols
of the Cycladic Civilization, the Piper and the Harpist, which are
now exposed at the Archaelogical Museum of Athens.
At
the west is Schoinousa. The island has three settlements and a lot
of beautiful sandy beaches. Mersini, the harbour of the island,
is at its west coast. At the village Schoinousa or Panayia, you
can visit a Church of unique beauty, the Church of Panayia Akathi.
At Messaria you will see the Temple of Evangelistria. Schoinousa,
this small paradise of the Aegean, is the island that the famous
Pirates of the Aegean used as a shelter.
At
the southwest is Erakleia. Its hills are full of prickly pears and
cedars, while its splendid beaches attract the visitors. At the
harbour, Ayios Yeoryios, you can visit the Churches of Ayios Yeoryios
and Taxiarhes. At Panayia or Pano Meria are the Temples of Ayios
Nektarios and Panayia. At Livadi, the third village, you will find
the best beach of the island and the Castle with its magnificent
view to the other islands.
The
Church of Panayia Akathi at Schoinousa and its great feast.
Sea
caves at the north part of Pano Koufonisi.
Fokospilia,
at Donousa, a cave that used to be a shelter for seals.
Running
waters at Piyi of Donousa. One of the unique cases that you can
see running waters at Cyclades.
The
huge vertical rock Merihas, at Erakleia.
Spilia
tou Tihou (cave of the wall) with the impressive stalactites, at
Donousa.
The
Cavern of Ayios Ioannis, at the south of Erakleia.
The
Castle of Erakleia, at Livadi, with its magnificent view.
On
June, at Koufonisia, is organised the "feast of the fisherman",
with sea dishes and wine. On 15th August there are great feasts
at almost all the Small Cyclades. Kato Koufonisia, Erakleia, Schoinousa
and Donousa celebrate Virgin Mary. At the feasts of 15th August,
the expenses of food are undertaken by the Church or by Paniyiras
(a resident-organizer of the feast).
To
Small Cyclades: The distance of the islands to Piraeus varies between
114 and 125 naval miles. There are itineraries with ferry boat during
the whole year to Donousa, Pano Koufonisi, Schoinousa and Erakleia.
The average duration of the trip is eight hours and a half. There
is also coastal connection with Naxos.
At
Small Cyclades: The islands are so small that you need only your
foot to completely explore them.
Donousa
Health Centre:
2285051506
Village Hall:
2285051600
Pano Koufonisi
Health Centre:
2285071370
Police Station:
2285071375
Village Hall:
2285071379
Schoinousa
Health Centre:
2285071385
Village Hall:
2285071170
Erakleia
Health Centre:
2285071388, 2285071545
Gastronomy:At
Donousa you will eat "patatato" (meat in red sauce with
potatoes), "yiaprakia" and "kavourmas" (pieces
of pork fried in grease). Nougat with honey in leaves of lemon tree,
the traditional sweet of marriage and baptism, you'll find at Koufonisia.
If you are at Donousa during Easter, you will eat meat in the oven
filled with rice. At Koufonisia eat "diples" and "mizithra"
cheese, while you also should taste ibex of Keros. At Schoinousa
try lamb in the oven, try beans, "diples" and "meletinia"
(cheese pies with mizithra, eggs and sugar). Finally, at Erakleia,
apart from meletinia you should also eat "pitaridia" (kind
of noodle), while at Easter time, lamb in oven filled with rice,
grapes and walnuts, is served. Of course, at all the islands, fish
is fresh and abundant.
You should buy: Local sweets such as meletinia and diples.
Fishing: Enough.
Sailing: Visit some of the islands' unreachable beaches.
Sport: Walking. A lot.
Swimming: At Small Cyclades you will find probably the most beautiful
beaches of the Aegean. At Donousa choose Livadi, Kedros, Vathy Limanari,
Mesa Ammos and Sapounohoma. At Pano Koufonisi, Pori is a really
nice beach, as well as Italidas beach (was named after a resident's
Italian wife), Parianos and Harokopos. At Kato Koufonisi and at
Keros you will discover a lot of small beaches. At Schoinousa you
may swim at Almyros, Psili Ammos, Tsingouri, Fontana and Ayios Vasileios.
At erakleia, choose Ai Yioryis, Vourkaria and Merihas. If you have
a boat visit Spilia.
 
Donousa may also be spelled Donoussa. Koufonisia and Koufonisi may also
be spelled Koufonissia and Koufonissi. Schoinousa may also be spelled
Schoinoussa, Shoinousa, Shoinoussa, Schinousa or Schinoussa. Erakleia
may also be spelled Eracleia, Herakleia, Heracleia, Iraklia, Irakleia,
Iraclia, Iracleia.
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