Apart from the museums that have been mentioned in our blog, Mykonos is an island with many sights, all of them worth exploring. Many of them are located in Mykonos town and in a walking distance from each other. Some sightseeing spots are also found in Ano Mera area, the village of Mykonos.
Little Venice
This is the most picturesque spot of the island, located under the famous windmills, where you can enjoy your cocktails during the sunset.
Tip: Pick a table at the famous Caprice of Mykonos and enjoy the best view of the windmills!
Windmills
The trademark of Mykonos with its spectacular views over Little Venice and Mykonos town.
**Don’t forget to be photographed with your beloved ones under the windmills!
Panagia Paraportiani
The church of ‘Panagia Paraportiani’ is situated in the area of Kastro, by the sea, in Mykonos town (Chora). It is among the most photographed churches in the world. During the Middle Ages, in this location there was a tall fortified tower, being one of the entrances to the Kastro (castle). The whitewashed church consists of five separate small churches which are joined together.
Panagia Tourliani
The Monastery of ‘Panagia Tourliani’ is one of the major Mykonos attractions worth visiting, especially if you love sites of significant religious value. Located 8km from Mykonos town, in a region called Ano Mera, Panagia Tourliani counts many centuries from its construction. It owes its existence to the will of two monks of ‘Panagia Ekatontapyliani’ monastery of Paros, who wanted to build a church dedicated to the Assumption/Presentation of the Virgin Mary, in 1542. In the Monastery you can see a museum with rare Byzantine icons and holy vestments.
In the area of the Monastery, there is a square which is surrounded with tavernas serving delicious traditional Greek food.
Catholic Church
The Catholic church of ‘Panagia Rodario’ is located in the area of Little Venice for the needs of local Catholics and tourists.
Gyzi Castle
The ruins of Gyzi Castle are a fairly noticeable landmark on the island of Mykonos. The castle is located on a hill overlooking the village of Ano Mera. This castle was designed to keep watch over the village and its inhabitants. Built in the 13th Century by the Gyzi Family that ruled on Mykonos during this period, the castle was built as a fortress against foreign enemies as well as for pirates. The castle was abandoned when the Ottoman Empire took over in the 14th century. For many centuries, pirates used Mykonos as a home base while plundering the surrounding areas. The castle survived the pirates and abandonment, though it fell to ruins. Today visitors love to walk through this area, imagining what this historical site brings to mind.
Mykonos Chora Castle (Kastro)
The Kastro is located on a hill behind the town and in the ancient years it was the acropolis of Mykonos. It was built to serve as a fortress to protect from the invasions of pirates. A Byzantine and then Venetian Kastro succeeded it, of which scant remains can still be seen.
Paleokastro Monastery
The Paleokastro (meaning Old Castle) Monastery is an 18th century nunnery situated on a hill near the village of Ano Mera. Its architecture represents the typical of the Cyclades and the interior is decorated with icons and a magnificent altar. The area where the Monastery of Paleokastro is located, is known to be one of the two large settlements during ancient times.
Municipal Library
The Municipal library is unique for several reasons. First of all, it is housed in an historical building that was built in the early 1700’s. The mansion was once a residence of the famous Mavrogenous family that played an important role in the modern history of Mykonos. Manto Mavrogenous, for example, was born outside of Greece but her mother was from Mykonos. During the Greek War for Independence, Manto played a role in the fighting and is called “La Bella Grecca”. She is known for being a female commander during this war. She is immortalized with a statue that can be found in Mykonos Town. As indicated by the mansion, the family had considerable wealth. The library houses an impressive collection of books and other literary works. Ioannis Meletopoulos, an historian from Mykonos who specialized in the island, donated the volumes. There are over 6000 works that are part of this collection and much of what can be found here is so unique, you won’t be able to find it anywhere else.
Armenistis Lighthouse
Armenistis Lighthouse (19 meters hight), one of the most photographed sights in Mykonos, was built in 1891 as a tribute to the maritime history of Mykonos island and is fully functional until today. Situated in the north-western part of the island, at Fanari area, which is 6,5 km from Mykonos town, the lighthouse overlooks the area between Mykonos and Tinos. Its strategic position offers scenic views of the surrounding areas and is worth visiting. The decision for building the lighthouse was after the sinking of the British steamship Volta in 1887 off the north coast of the island. The mechanism used to provide the light, was designed by French company Sauter Lemonier and received an award at the international exhibition in Paris at the time. Visitors can see the original lighting machinery in the courtyard of the Aegean Maritime Museum.
Neolithic settlement of Ftelia
The discovery of an ancient settlement at Ftelia, attests to the existence of a significant culture on the island during the Neolithic period. The settlement dates back to the Late Neolithic period and it was discovered in the middle of Ftelia’s beach. The oldest buildings date from the 5th and 4th millennium BC. Important architectural ruins were discovered for the first time in the Cyclades in this particular settlement. Plenty of charred bean seeds and fragments of ceramic vessels in different shapes were found inside them. Animal bones and arrowheads made of obsidian were discovered, as well, proving that the residents were cattle breeders and hunters.
Artificial Lake of Ano Mera Dam
The Artificial Lake of Ano Mera Dam is located on the northeast part of Mykonos Island, close to Fokos Beach. The dam was constructed to solve the island’s water supply problem, and today its artificial lake is a beautiful refuge for many migratory birds.
