Travel to Aegina. Everyone loves her fiercely at first sight. Young and old, politicians, artists, bohemians, lovers of quality holidays but also celebrities from Greece and abroad. Aegina, the "queen" of the Argosaronic Gulf, may be the island next door but its nobility and elegance are truly incomparable while combining tranquility with cosmopolitan life in a unique way. And of course, Aegina has everything: a convict, unique light and history clean beaches and bars with character and nice people the best pistachios on the planet (well, okay, Greece), and "hidden" beaches and archaeological temples and fantastic, super vintage old market and unprocessed, absolutely natural landscapes.
Travel to Aegina: The first images from the island
Let's not forget that Aegina has a very long history, which begins in the 3rd millennium BC and continues in prehistoric, classical, Roman, and Byzantine times. The Revolution of 1821 found the island in full development and in 1828 Aegina became the first capital of the newly established Greek state until 1829 when the capital was transferred to Athens. Fast forward to today though...
You will arrive in an hour by boat or in half by flying a dolphin vessel. Note that Aegina "blooms" touristically all year round, so you must have planned in time for your tickets. Before you even set foot on the island, only seeing the first overview of its city from the deck will you be thrilled.
The town of Aegina consists of the following characteristics: Neoclassical architecture, Kapodistrian buildings, residences of eminent people of yesterday and today, museums, monuments, restaurants, taverns, cafes and bars, very artistic and alternative shops for your shopping and of course a wonderful coastal promenade.
Note also that as soon as you get off the boat you will... Horses and carriages are waiting if you want to go around the beach this way.
This activity seems a bit cliché to some, to some interesting and vintage. We side with the latter since on the carriage you will get an even stronger feeling that the town of Aegina is a truly artistic gem.
The chapel of Agios Nikolaos in the port of Aegina
One of the first images you will see in the harbor is the Byzantine church of Agios Nikolaos, a small, whitewashed, simple building. It is one of the oldest temples on the island - reports of its existence exist since 1673. Tradition wants it to be designed and made by Parian craftsmen. Once, the fishermen of Aegina, before going out at dawn for work, stood on the blanket of the temple and prayed to the Saint of sailors to help them in storms and catches. To the left of the port, you will see the top of a (low) hill, and above it stands out the single column of Kolona, a remnant of the first settlement of the island in the Neolithic Age.
On the beach stands out a series of neoclassical buildings, with soft colors and elegant rhythms and volumes. These buildings testify to the urbanization of Aegina when the first free Greek state was founded here. And the image of the beach includes more: sailboats, yachts, boats and fishing boats, modern cafes next to traditional cafes, taverns, and ouzo bars.
A necessary stop in the city is the old fish market, a really cult image, completely authentic. It has been operating for 70 years and its crates are sown with fresh fish, while all around, inside the arcade of the market, Aeginians and visitors enjoy tsipouro and appetizers. In fact, in some of them, you can ask to be grilled with the fish you have chosen on the spot from the fish market.
Travel to Aegina: Necessary stops and secrets
Temple and Museum of Aphaia. This temple of Aphaia (i.e. Athena) is located at a height of 160 meters on the eastern side of the island, about 29 kilometers southwest of the Acropolis of Athens. It dates back to around 500-490 BC and forms an isosceles triangle with the ancient temples at Thissio and Sounion. The museum is located within the archaeological site. At its entrance, there is a representation of the temple in its original form. Among its exhibits are statues, tools of the time, and ceramic vessels. The museum also hosts a large part of the restored pediment of the church, through which the magnificence of this architectural construction is evident.
Note this as well. A large number of exhibits of the temple of Aphaia were discovered in 1811 by English and German archaeologists. Unfortunately, archaeologists sold the exhibits to Ludwig of Bavaria, and in 1828 they ended up in Munich, where they have been exhibited ever since. In a special room of the Glyptothek of Munich, entitled "Aegineans", there are parts of the temple, part of the sculptures of the pediments, 17 statues (including the statue of Athena), etc.
Fistiki fest. An unforgettable event if you are here in September. In this festival, the special fruit that grows almost all over the island has its honor. Jewelry, works of art, objects, flavors, and aromas inspired by the beloved pistachio of Aegina fill the coastal road of the island for four (usually). Let's say a few words about the PDO Aeginiotiko pistachio. In 1896 the doctor Nikolaos Peroglou started its systematic cultivation, which soon became popular among the inhabitants of the island.
At the beginning of the 1960s, the first pistachio peeling factory was created in the area of Plakakia. The quality of the "pistachio of Aegina", a name that was registered as a product of Protected Designation of Origin (PDO) in 1996, is internationally considered excellent and superior to several foreign varieties, which is due to the particular climatic conditions of the island (drought) and the volcanic characteristics of the soil.
Palaiochora. Many people call this area the "island Mystras". It is the old settlement of Aegina built by the Aeginites around 896 AD, to protect them from the sea raids of Saracen pirates. The hill was full of life and the inhabitants were engaged in agriculture and trade until 1537 AD, when the notorious pirate Barbarossa plundered and ravaged the settlement, demolishing everything except the churches. In 1654 AD Paleachora was destroyed again and deserted, this time by the Venetians. Today, about 35 of the 350 churches that existed in the past are preserved, with remarkable (but quite damaged) frescoes.
Monastery of Agios Nektarios. Undoubtedly one of the top attractions of the island. This particular monastery is considered miraculous as Saint Nektarios (1846-1920) is a modern saint of the Eastern Orthodox Church, who is believed to have performed miracles while still alive. The monastery is one of the largest in Greece, but also one of the largest Orthodox churches in the Balkans. It started operating (reopening to be precise) by Agios Nektarios himself when he was looking for a place to house a monastery for the end of his life. Together with four nuns who wished to become monks under his spiritual guidance, Saint Nektarios found an old abandoned monastery at Xantos.
Thus, the monastery reopened in 1904. It acquired its current form between 1973 and 1994, with locals building on the ruins of a Byzantine monastery. Today, 14 nuns live in the monastery. If you make the trip to Aegina, visit it.
Hiking in Aegina. The island has 10 paths, which give the visitor the opportunity to come closer to nature and discover the hidden beauties of Aegina. In fact, for a few years now, the Association of Active Citizens of Aegina together with the Greek Cycling Mountaineering Club of Aegina "Anavasi", have organized hikes in the beautiful mountain villages of the island while taking care of the trails.
The beaches of Aegina are beautiful with their character and of course clean. In the city, you will find the beaches Avra, Panagitsa, and the famous Kolona. In the latter, after passing through the archaeological site, you will find yourself on a beach with pine trees that reach the sea. Of particular interest is the beach... No sand that wins you over from the first minute.
The beaches in Aegina have their character
Very close to the town and on the road to Perdika, is Santa Claus. When it is south, this beach is filled with windsurfing and kitesurfing enthusiasts. A little further, you will find the organized beaches of the first and second marathons. Next is Perdika with its rocks for diving, Agia Marina with its long sandy beach and the blue flag, and Souvala with its former thermal baths.
Souvala beach in Aegina
Small parenthesis to say a few words about the -important- Souvala. It is the second largest port of Aegina and is located at 10 km. north of the main port. Note that on the way from the port of Aegina to Souvala you can make one (or rather two) stops to admire the museum of Christos Capralos and the house of Kazantzakis. At one time, Souvala was the main port of the island, when the town of Aegina was moved for greater security by pirates, within the walls of Paleochora.
Where to eat in Aegina
A trip always whets the appetite. Where to eat in Aegina? The choices for well-cooked, delicious, and excellent raw materials food are really many, and the island has invested for decades in this area. In the city known as "Babis", with very good Greek cuisine, tables by the sea and impressively illuminated palm trees. Also known as "Bakalogatos", tsipouradiko-tavern with decoration reminiscent of an old grocery store. It has a beautiful, picturesque courtyard. "Kappos So" is a well-known restaurant with special flavors while in many dishes the pistachio of Aegina is the protagonist. One of the most famous restaurants on the island is "Skotadis".
In Kypseli a favorite shop is "To Steki tis Kypselis" with delicious souvlaki which you can enjoy in a very nice courtyard. In Marathon, a good choice can be "Ostria", which for 20 years has been serving delicious homemade stews, fresh fish, and village pies. All this at tables by the sea. In Perdika, "Nondas" is worth visiting, with a history since 1936 and a specialization in fresh fish. In Vagia, a good choice is "Choreftra" with special pies and dishes of the hour, but also Nikodemos a classic tavern with all of it. Bon appetit!
Tip: Try Geremezi. This is a white, goat cheese-ointment, slightly sour but with a strong, wonderful taste. It is a three-month ripening. Most taverns serve it and you can buy it in one of the shops with local products in the city.
In short; Aegina may be a very close getaway but at the same time it is great in "revelations" and powerful images.
Vintage atmosphere from Aegina
It is ideal for all seasons of the year, but especially in spring, all its beauties are ideally highlighted in the light of the wonderful light of the island. A trip that we highly recommend...
