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 Kimolos - The island on the wish list. The small island of Kimolos is a good destination for those wishing to escape the crowds and commercialism that prevails in some other islands. Kimolos is named after the lime or "kimolia" which was mined and where porcelain was made of. On the northeast side of the island the landscape is therefore affected by mining. How ever from the sea upon arrival with the ferry this gives a false impression of the island, because the south coast is very friendly and there are a number of beautiful sandy beaches (Aliki, Kambana and the naturist beach Ellinika). The population of the island is very hospitable. Here also live the descendants of pirates, with pitch-black, curly hair and pale blue eyes. For tourists that are looking for a quiet and traditional holiday island Kimolos is the right place to go to. During the high season it is also possible to make a daytrip to Kimolos from nearby islands as Sifnos and Milos. From the village Pollonia in Milos (which in almost all maps of Milos and all literature wrongly is marked / indicated as "Apollonia") a trip with the kaik takes only 30 minutes. All ferries arrive in the port of Psathi, situated on the east coast of the island of Kimolos. In Psathi there are a number of tavernas and there is a pebble beach. It makes a quiet impression. On a short distance in a cove lies Goupa, where you can find a beautiful beach with a couple of tavernas. Behind the village Psathi begin are the hills with here and there a windmill. The Chora or capital is situated at about one and a half a kilometer distance and is set on the foot of the mountain Xaplovouni, behind the port. It is an easy walk (public transport is not available on the island, but there is a minbus during the high season between Psathi and the Chora and to some of the beaches). The Chora itself is relatively unspoilt and authentic and includes a (twentieth century) cathedral. The village is also known for its kastro (some houses build like a fortress in order for protection against attacks by pirates). This kastro is more than four centuries old and around it the village was further expanded to its present size. Similar "kastro's" can also be found on the islands of Folegandros and Antiparos, but the kastro on Kimolos is regarded as the finest. In later times additional openings in the wall were made. On one of the gates there is a date: 1556. Some pieces that were used in the buildings come from an even older building, namely a reinforcement from the thirteenth century. The village consists mainly of streets with houses and there are several small squares. The houses are painted white and there are many striking flowers. Spread over the village are a number of shops. These are not really adapted to tourism and the stock and the choice is limited. There are also a number of beautiful churches, such as the Evangelistia, which dates back to 1608. This church is situated just outside the kastro to the north. Then there are the Taxiarhis (1670) and the Chrisostomos Church (1680). In Chora is also a small Archaeological Museum. The views from the Chora over the island and the sea are beautiful. The rest of the island is very quiet, although there is a new road between Chora and the northern village Prassa and the southern bathing resort Aliki, where medicinal sulphur spring can be found. Other attractions are a tower and ruined Venetian castle on the highest mountain on the island at 355 meters height and which is easy to reach on foot from Chora (Paliokastro, built by Marco Sanudo). Another attraction are the remnants of the ancient capital on the west near Ellinika Beach, which lie partly in the sea between Kimolos and the opposite islet Agios Andreas. The island of Kimolos was once one with the island of Milos but got separated in an earthquake. The town Ellinika sunk and during archaeological excavations remains from the 8th century have been found where this city once was. The beach of Ellinika can be reached on foot from the port of Psathi in about 50 minutes. Near Kambana Beach there are the remnants of a number of Mycenean tombs to be found. Furthermore scattered about the island there are several old churches from the sixteenth century to be discovered. |
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Kimolos General Information Kimolos is an island that belongs to the Cyclades, a Greek island group located in the Aegean Sea, east of the northern Peloponnese and Crete. Kimolos is located in the so-called "western Cyclades." Kimolos is located just northeast of the island of Milos and southwest of the island of Sifnos. Covering an area of 38 square kilometres, it is a small mountainous island. It is also a relatively dry island with a green plains where farming takes place. Because the island of volcanic origin the land is fertile. The island has many natural caves, such as the Vromolimni cave northeast of Chora, which can be reached on foot. Many of these caves once served as a hide away for pirates. In the year 2000 the island had a population of about 800. The port of Psathi is located in the southeast of the island, not far from the main place Kimolos (Chora), where 90% of the population lives. It is an island where tourism is less comprehensive than on other islands. The island has sandy and rustic beaches: Prassa and Psathi. To the south and east of Kimolos are three smaller, uninhabited islands: Agios Giorgos, Agios Efthathios and the larger, beautiful Polyaigos. In the Kimolos-Polyaigos area you can find the rare and protected monk seal. Most inhabitants of the island still live of farming or livestock, some of them are fishermen and there are a large number of people that still live in the still existing mining industry (both on Kimolos as in the nearby island of Milos). Bit by bit, many of the old houses on Kimolos are being restored to help increase tourism. Nearly all the beaches of Kimolos lie on the south / south-east coast where they also are protected against the wind. Most are easily accessible on foot from Psathi. Often the sand has a white or a red color. Aliki, Bonatsa and Kalamitsi have large beaches of golden sand. In the northeast, near a mine, is the beach of Prassa. In the south and east are also the beaches of Agios Georgios, with its white sand and the beaches of Livadaki, Klima, Rema and Psathi (the port). There are also some beaches in the north and west of Kimolos, such as Soufi and Monastiria in the north and Ormos or Athinia and Kastro in the west. If you are walking on the island it is recommended to stay on the footpaths and not walk through the dense bushes because there are quite a few snakes on the island, including a poisonous viper. If you are bitten it is a necessary to have an antidote. Apart from the monk seal there are even more unusual species to be found, such as a golden owl, a sea raven and a rare type of hawk. Many accommodations / hotels are not to be found on Kimolos. Most hotels and rooms are situated in the Chora.
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Ferries to Kimolos Island|
Hans Huisman 2007, Dirk Slegers, Colombo Francesco Luigi, www.angelfire.com/super2/greece