MYKONOS

MYKONOS

Mykonos is an island in the Aegean Sea and belongs to the Cyclades. The capital of the island is Chora, located on the western side of the island. Mykonos had a population of 10,704 people and was one of the first Greek islands to develop tourism. As early as the 1960s, tourists flocked to the island in big numbers. Today the nightlife of Mykonos is considered one of the most lively and active in Europe. The island's best-known spot is called Little Venice due to its resemblance to the Italian city.

In the bay of Ftelia, on the north coast of the island, a Neolithic settlement has been identified with the oldest buildings dating back to around 5,000 BC.

The terrain of Mykonos is mostly stony and hardly smooth. There are only two mountains, Anomeritis and Borniotis. Mykonos lacks forests and presents little plantation with correspondingly limited cultivation mainly of wheat, grapes and figs. It has many streams and no rivers. The water supply used to be from wells, but today the water supply needs are covered by the desalination plant, operating in the area of Corfu, from both dams, Marathi and Maus.

Mykonos presents a warm semi-arid steppe climate with strong Mediterranean elements. It shows very mild winters and cool summers due to the winds that blow almost continuously in the Aegean during the summer.

Initially, Mykonos was part of the Diocese of Delos, but later it was annexed to the Diocese of Tinos. The island is adorned by the Monastery of "Panagia Tourliani in Ano Mera, where the miraculous icon of Panagia Tourliani is kept, while there are over 500 churches and chapels in total, "one for every day of the year" as the locals say.