|
|
|
|
Hotel
NAZOS MYKONOS TOWN GREECE
Beautifully located in
Mikonos town the Hotel NAZOS is overlooking the bright blue Aegean sea and stunning Cycladic landscapes, within easy walking distance
of unspoilt beaches and the charming Old Mikonos Town, with its
tiny houses and maze-like streets, Hotel Nazos warmly welcomes
guests with a friendly Greek atmosphere and hospitality.
The family-run property has been built according to the
local Mikonian architecture and offers traditional style accommodation, with modern comforts and facilities that will make you feel right at home. Attentive service combined with the excellent location makes the Hotel Nazos a perfect destination for truly relaxing vacations on the island of Mikonos.
-----------------------------------------
Modern Mikonos Island GREECE
Mikonos is a very cosmopolitan island, made famous the last few decades by the international jet set visitors that spend their holidays on the island. Mikonos has clean, magnificent beaches that offer everything from clear-blue waters, windsurfing, sea-side tavernas, loud music and even full nudity. Many Greek and international celebrities have summer residences in Mikonos and can often be seen walking the charming white-washed roads or having dinner at a small street-side table of a local taverna. The island is Greece's playground and one of the top holiday destinations in the world. Some people think you have not really seen what Greece has to offer until you visit Mikonos. The island is one of the most upscale areas of Greece, and its real estate is very expensive. The popularity of the island has given rise to a wave of real estate development (private homes/villas and hotels) and concerns have been expressed that the island is gradually losing its character. The good thing is that (by law) every new building has to abide by the rules of the cycladic architectural style.
----------------------------------------
History of Mikonos island
History
Archaeological finds indicate that the Ionians settled on Mikonos in the early part of the 11th century BC. More recent discoveries have uncovered remnants from the Neolithic Kares tribe dating back to as far as 3000 BC.
In Greek mythology Mikonos was the location of the battle between Zeus and the Gigantes and the island was named in honor of Apollo's grandson Mykonos. During these ancient times, Mykonos, due to its proximity to the then highly populated island of Delos (situated about 2km away), became very important as a supply island and possibly as a getaway location for Delian citizens.
-----------------------------------------
The location of hotel Nazos
in
MYKONOS town map.
|
|
|
|
|
Mykonos has a lot of shops, many selling overpriced souvenirs, clothing, and jewelry to cruise-ship day-trippers. That said, there is also a number of serious shops here, selling serious wares -- at serious prices. The finest jewelry shop is LALAoUNIS, 14 Polykandrioti (tel. 22890/22-444), associated with the famous LALAoUNIS museum and shops in Athens. It has superb reproductions of ancient and Byzantine jewelry as well as original designs. When you leave LALAoUNIS, have a look at Yiannis Galantis (tel. 22890/22-255), which sells clothing designed by the owner. If you can't afford LALAoUNIS, you might check out one of the island's oldest jewelry shops, the Gold Store, right on the waterfront (tel. 22890/22-397). Delos Dolphins, Matoyanni at Enoplon Dimameon (tel. 22890/22-765), specializes in copies of museum pieces; Vildiridis, 12 Matoyianni (tel. 22890/23-245), also has jewelry based on ancient designs.
Mykonos has lots of art galleries, including some based in Athens that move here for the summer season. Scala Gallery, 48 Matoyianni (tel. 22890/23-407; fax 22890/26-993; www.scalagallery.gr), is one of the best galleries in town. All the artists represented are from Greece, many of them quite well known. There is a selection of jewelry, plus an interesting collection of recent works by Yorgos Kypris, an Athenian sculptor and ceramic artist. Nearby on Panahrandou is Scala II Gallery (tel. 22890/26-993), where the overflow from the Scala Gallery is sold at reduced prices. In addition, manager Dimitris Roussounelos (tel./fax 22890/26-993; scala@otenet.gr) of Scala Gallery manages a number of studios and apartments in Hora, so you might find lodgings as well as art at Scala!
There was a time when Mykonos was world-famous for its vegetable-dyed hand-loomed weavings, especially those of the legendary Kuria Vienoula. Today, Nikoletta (tel. 22890/27-503) is one of the few shops where you can still see the island's traditional loomed goods. Eleni Kontiza's tiny shop Hand Made (tel. 22890/27-512), on a lane between Plateia Tria Pigadia and Plateia Laka, has a good selection of handwoven scarves, rugs, and tablecloths from around Greece.
The best bookstore on Mykonos is To Vivlio (tel. 22890/27-737), on Zouganeli, one street over from Matoyianni. It carries a good selection of books in English, including many works of Greek writers in translation, plus some art and architecture books and a few travel guides.
Works of culinary art can be found at Skaropoulos (tel. 22890/24-983), 1.5km (1 mile) out of Hora on the road to Ano Mera, featuring the Mykonian specialties of Nikos and Frantzeska Koukas. Nikos's grandfather started making confections here in 1921, winning prizes and earning a personal commendation from Winston Churchill. Try their famed amygdalota (an almond sweet) or the almond biscuits (Churchill's favorite). You can also find Skaropoulos sweets at Pantopoleion, 24 Kaloyerou (tel. 22890/22-078), along with Greek organic foods and natural cosmetics; the shop is in a beautifully restored 300-year-old Mykonian house.
When you finish your shopping, treat yourself to another almond biscuit (or two or three) from Efthemios, 4 Florou Zouganeli (tel. 22890/22-281), just off the harborfront, where biscuits have been made since the 1950s.
If you're on Mykonos, probably one reason is the travel posters and postcards you've seen of the sun setting behind funky whitewashed buildings with wooden balconies overhanging the sea. That's the district called Little Venice. Almost every other building is now a bar where you can watch the sunset -- or you can sit by the three windmills and get a spectacular view of Little Venice itself at sunset. Either way, if you're in luck, you'll be able to combine listening to Mozart with sipping a drink (how about a margarita?), as the sun turns the sea rose red.
|
