Anafi - Anafi

Anafi

State	Greece
Region	Southern Aegean
Inhabitants	273 (2001)
^{[link previously not working]}Institutional website

Anafi (Ανάφη) it's an island Greek in the archipelago of Cyclades.

To know

Anafi is part of the Cyclades southern and is located east of Santorini from which it is visible together with the islet of Anaphopula. It is an arid and rocky island with an extremely dry climate but the colors are fantastic and the full moon nights are magical. It boasts many golden beaches between cliffs and rocks eroded by the sea and the wind that have taken on very particular shapes.

It is considered an evocative island, still off the beaten track by mass tourism although it is a stone's throw from the famous Santorini.

Geographical notes

The altitude varies from 0 to 584 m.

Territories and tourist destinations

Anafi Island: full screen map.

Urban centers

Agios Nikolaos (Αγιος Νικόλαος) - The port of the island, inhabited only in the summer months. A steep two km uphill road connects it to Chora.
Chora Anafis (Chora, Χώρα Ανάφης) - The only permanently inhabited village on the island that dominates the port of Agios Nikolaos high up. Chora is built on the ruins of a fortress from the Venetian era. Its houses, of a blinding white, are mostly domed as the local tradition wanted and overlook narrow cobbled alleys. To Athens, at the foot of the Acropolis there is the old neighborhood of Anafiotissa, built by emigrants from Anafi which recalls the town planning and architecture of Chora Anafis.
Klisidi (Κλησίδι) - A tiny village that comes alive only in the summer season.

Other destinations

The tourist life of Anafi takes place along the stretch of southern coast east of the Aghios Nikolaos port characterized by coves and coves occupied in summer by communities of campers. Following the track past the power plant past the pier, you first come across the town Katsouni where there is a precious source of fresh water and therefore Kleisidi. Beyond are the beach of Roukounas divided into small and large, the latter very popular and those of Katelimatsa is Megas Potamòs. After 10 km the track (for a stretch asphalted) ends at the small beach of Monastiri with little shade and now on the east side.

How to get

By plane

The nearest airport is at Santorini served by numerous scheduled or "charter" flights from Italy. The "charter" is a far cheaper solution than a scheduled flight in the high season but it is notoriously full of unforeseen events: cancellations and postponements of 24 hours and more are frequent with consequent inconvenience or increase in living expenses for to which it is necessary to carefully read the conditions of the packages proposed by the "local" Tour Operators.

On boat

Shipping agents who can be contacted for information and ticket purchase a Santorini I'm:

Nomikòs Travel, ☎ 30 22860 23660, 30 22860 22660, fax: 30 22860 23666.
^{[link not working]}Sostis Travel (On the golden road to Thira), ☎ 30 22860 22487, fax: 30 22860 22571.
Holy Star, ☎ 30 22860 23082, 30 22860 23105, fax: 30 22860 23862, @[email protected].
^{[link not working]}Holy Volcano Tours (On the central square of Thira in Santorini next to the commercial bank (Emporiki)), ☎ 30 22860 22127, 30 22860 24853, 30 22860 22259, fax: 30 22860 22955, @[email protected].

How to get around

A car is not necessary as the paved roads are only short sections and the rest consists of tracks or paths. A rental boat, on the other hand, would be much more useful and fun. However, scooters can be hired at the pension Iliovasilema Tel .: 30 22860 61280, 30 22860 61380

What see

The barrel-roofed monastery of Panagia Kalamiotissa, a feature of the buildings of Anafi. In the background the white houses of the capital

Anafi is full of ruins that lie in a state of total abandonment and the subject of intense looting in the past. A terrifying fire in 1997 completed the devastating work.

Zoodochos Piyìs Monastery

Site of the ancient Chora - Inside the island in Kastro, with tombs, some headless statues and traces of walls.
Katelimatsa - The ancient port of Anafi where some tombs have been found
Monastery of Our Lady of Kalamo (Kalamiotissa) - On the top of Mount Kalamos, an impressive 460 m high promontory of pure rock. at the eastern end of the island. The monastery was built in this inhospitable place because it was a kind of sentinel of the sea and its bells gave the alarm to the arrival of pirates.
Zoodochos Piyìs Monastery - Built in the enclosure of the temple of Apollo on the slopes of Mount Kalamo

Events and parties

On September 8, the Feast of the Dormition of the Virgin occurs in the Orthodox calendar (corresponding to the Catholic feast of the Assumption). The epicenter is the kalamiotissa monastery. Dances, rivers of wine (retsina) and ouzo accompany the party.

What to do

Shopping

Thyme honey

How to have fun

Anafi is suitable for holidays in contact with nature and the nightlife is reduced to a flicker. In Chora there is the Milos bar located at the entrance to the village and, as the name implies, near a mill. The other place in the capital is the Argos, nothing more than a room and not that big but full of Greek students "attitudes". Finally, along the only road leading to the port stands the "Mandres" (the Herd) which offers a beautiful view of the nearby island of Santorini. This is the place where tourists go on the day of their departure, mainly because they have the chance to spot the ferry on which they will embark approaching the port.

Where to eat

The goat cheese produced in Anafi is famous along with thyme honey. Fish abounds, especially mullet and crustaceans (lobster, shrimp and lobster). The latter are used to season spaghetti but the taste for Italian palates is not as exceptional as others praised.

Where stay

Section of the southern coast between the port of Agios Nikolaos and the rocky mass of Cape Kalamos. Every year the numerous coves along the coast are filled with tents set up by foreign visitors

In Anafi you can sleep peacefully under the stars as its climate is extremely dry. The only problem is finding a place in the shade and sheltered from the Meltemi winds that sometimes blow violently in summer, especially on the east and north coasts. Some of the numerous coves and coves between Aghios Nikolaos and Monastiri beach are covered with tamarisk trees. Free camping is prohibited in Greece and the fines for offenders are quite steep. Local authorities do not apply the rule, fearful of seeing tourists escape. At the most you will be told to clear out but it is only a formality even if the tolerance limits shrink from year to year. It should also be added that many of the campers, (Mostly neo-hippies) practice full nudism, which deeply offends the very religious local population and the police are more intransigent on this issue, forcing tourists to migrate to the more secluded and distant beaches of the east or north coast where, however, the winds are often annoying. Generally, you never camp alone to avoid any dangers.

Average prices

Apollon Village, ☎ 30 22860 61348, 30 22860 28739, 30 210 9936150 (winter months), 30 6944 301793 (mobile), fax: 30 22860 61287, @[email protected]. Small category hotel B. open from May to September and consists of 12 apartments, two studios and 5 rooms with terrace and sea view. Room facilities: Internet service, direct dial telephone, satellite TV, air conditioning, refrigerator, etc.
Ta Plagia, ☎ 30 22860 61308, 30 6972-736409 (mobile), fax: 30 22860 61372, @[email protected]. Ten rooms for rent. The business is open from May to September.
Artemis, ☎ 30 22860 61235, 30 22860 61263, 30 210 9934653 (winter months), 30 210 9927179 (winter months), fax: 30 22860 61263. Total of 4 rooms. The manager is the owner of "" kafenio "" (Cafe) of the village.
Panselinos (Full moon), ☎ 30 22860 61271, 30 6974 274990 (mobile).
Iliovasilema (Sunset), ☎ 30 22860 61280, 30 22860 61380. Ten rooms furnished with restaurant service. Open all the year. Possibility to rent scooters.
Pelagos, ☎ 30 22860 61240, fax: 30 22860 61238.
Galini (In the village of Chora), ☎ 30 22860 61279, 30 6974-312338 (mobile), fax: 30 22860 61379. 13 rooms. Open all the year.
Panorama (In the village of Chora), ☎ 30 22860 61292, 30 6974-648496 (mobile), fax: 30 22860 61292. 15 furnished rooms. Open all the year.
Ostria, ☎ 30 22860 61375, fax: 30 22860 61301.
Villa Sir George, ☎ 30 22860 61283. Rooms for rent.
Cyclades, ☎ 30 22860 61270, 30 6974-454883 (mobile), @[email protected].
Roukounas, ☎ 30 22860 61206, 30 6944 938573 (mobile), 30 6938 070184 (mobile).
Paradisos (In the village of Chora), ☎ 30 22860 61243, fax: 30 22860 61243. Total of 7 rooms, open all year.
Meltemi (In the village of Chora), ☎ 30 22860 61291, 30 6976-684960 (mobile). Total of 5 rooms. Open from May to October.
Flora (In the village of Chora), ☎ 30 22860 61356, 30 210 9739616 (winter months), 30 6945-647985 (mobile), fax: 30 210 9739616. Rooms for rent.

Safety

Anafi Regional Medical Center - Tel 30 22860 61215. The center, where only one doctor is on duty, has machinery to deal with heart problems (Cardioexpress). There are no pharmacies in Anafi and medicines are only available at the medical center. For more serious cases the patient is transported to Athens or a Rhodes with helicopters or C-130 from the "National First Aid Center" on board of which are the so-called "flying doctors" (Ιπταμενοι ιατροί του Εθνικού Κέντρου Άμεσης Βοήθειας). One of these helicopters, which left Anafi on the night of June 17, 2002, crashed into the sea with four people on board plus the patient.