The island escape one hop from Athens
Aegina
Holidays all year long in seductive Aegina
So near to the mainland and yet so far, Aegina offers a surprisingly unspoilt escape. Aegina, a small and charming island in the Saronic Gulf, will give you a taste of all the other Greek islands. Though only an hour from Athens by ferry, this place feels worlds away from the bustling capital. Its long summers and mild winters make it a year-long holiday destination. You’ll find antiquities and traditional tavernas, a port town with a 19th-century atmosphere, beaches for swimming practically all year round, deserted Byzantine chapels, pine-clad hills, acres of pistachio orchards and mounds of freshly roasted pistachios. Visit Perdika and you could be in a Cycladic village or the Temple of Aphaia and you’ll discover one of Greece’s most memorable sanctuaries.
What to do in Aegina
A retro ride around Aegina’s town
First, explore the old town. But before you set off, don’t forget to buy a bag of those pistachios. If you’re feeling romantic or just a little laid-back, you can take a tour in a horse-drawn carriage and be transported instantly back to the 19th century. Close to Athens, in the heart of the Saronic Gulf, you’ll enjoy picture-perfect imagery. You’ll pass the dazzling white chapel of Agios Nikolas, brightly painted fishing caiques, some of which double as floating greengrocers, and the fish market with almost as many tavernas as stalls. Make sure you come back here to sample the seafood with a glass of ouzo.
Here and there stand imposing neoclassical buildings and monuments, vestiges from the early post-independence days when Ioannis Kapodistrias, the country’s first governor, made Aegina it’s capital. Venture into the side streets and you’ll find cafes in shaded courtyards, galleries, and shops selling hand-painted ceramics, clothes and various knick-knacks.
The power of Ancient Greece
On your trip to Aegina, you’ll come across the well-preserved columns of the Temple of Aphaia, an ancient temple predating the Parthenon. Rising up out of a pine forest above the bay of Agia Marina, the peaceful setting invites you to sit down for a while, feel the ancient energy of Greece and ponder the mysterious triangle connecting this temple, Sounion’s Temple of Poseidon to the east and the Parthenon, a symbol of the mighty embrace of Athens perhaps.
Paleahora: A stroll through mediaeval Aegina
For a glimpse of a more recent era, a stroll along the steep hillside of Paleohora will take you back to Byzantine Aegina. This was the island’s capital, where the islanders moved to be out of sight of the cut-throat pirates who scoured the Aegean for victims. All that is left are the remnants of its many 38 stone chapels. As you explore them, you’ll find yourself scrambling to the top of the hill to see the twin chapel of Saints George and Demetrius where the medieval fortress once stood. The hike is especially delightful in spring when wildflowers carpet the slope.
Agios Nektarios: a place of pilgrimage
Orthodox Christians from all over flock to the 20th- century church of Agios Nektarios to honour Greece’s first modern saint, whose embalmed body is considered to have miraculous powers.
The Monastery of Agios Nektarios
Orthodox pilgrims have been coming here for years, to worship at the holy monastery of Agios Nektarios, said to have been a miracle worker.
A trip to Perdika
No island should be explored solely by land. Charter a yacht or a speedboat at Kalamaki and you can sail into the little fishing port of Perdika in no time. You may only be in the Saronic Gulf, but you’ll think you’ve reached the Cyclades; whitewashed houses, flower-lined steps, fish tavernas on stilts just like in the postcards. You can even enjoy a second island at the same time, since little Moni, with its emerald waters, lies a mere 10 minutes offshore.
Hidden gems of Aegina
The floating greengrocers
Even if you don’t want to buy anything, it will be a feast for your eyes. You won’t find fruit and vegetable sellers like these anywhere else in Greece. It’s a sight worth discovering during your holidays on the island!
The Christos Kapralos Museum
Just outside the main town, this old studio of one of Greece’s most famous sculptors houses some of his best-known works and drawings. The bronze portrait of his mother looks out to sea opposite the house, where he summered from 1963 to 1991.
The archaeological site of Kolona
The sounds and aromas of the Aegean wafted over one of the most important prehistoric settlements in Greece for thousands of years. Today, only the remains exist as at the end of the 6th century BC, the hill was transformed into a sanctuary and a Doric temple dedicated to Apollo came to dominate the site. The monolithic column that formed part of the temple was for years a familiar landmark for Venetian sailors, who named the area Colonna.
<!-- AddThis Advanced Settings generic via filter on get_the_excerpt --><!-- AddThis Share Buttons generic via filter on get_the_excerpt --><!-- AddThis Related Posts generic via filter on get_the_excerpt -->
Hanse 418: Break the rules "Breaking rules and setting trends" is the motto of Hanse and the 418 most certainly lives up to this promise. With large hull windows offering great views over the water, a glass companionway with complementing glass skylights at either side, the light inside the 418 is breathtaking. The interior is also laid out to maximize the living space within.<!-- AddThis Advanced Settings generic via filter on get_the_excerpt --><!-- AddThis Share Buttons generic via filter on get_the_excerpt --><!-- AddThis Related Posts generic via filter on get_the_excerpt -->
Hanse 418: Break the rules "Breaking rules and setting trends" is the motto of Hanse and the 418 most certainly lives up to this promise. With large hull windows offering great views over the water, a glass companionway with complementing glass skylights at either side, the light inside the 418 is breathtaking. The interior is also laid out to maximize the living space within.<!-- AddThis Advanced Settings generic via filter on get_the_excerpt --><!-- AddThis Share Buttons generic via filter on get_the_excerpt --><!-- AddThis Related Posts generic via filter on get_the_excerpt -->
Hanse 418 – 3cab – Mystique
Hanse 418: Break the rules "Breaking rules and setting trends" is the motto of Hanse and the 418 most certainly lives up to this promise. With large hull windows offering great views over the water, a glass companionway with complementing glass skylights at either side, the light inside the 418 is breathtaking. The interior is also laid out to maximize the living space within.<!-- AddThis Advanced Settings generic via filter on get_the_excerpt --><!-- AddThis Share Buttons generic via filter on get_the_excerpt --><!-- AddThis Related Posts generic via filter on get_the_excerpt -->
Hanse 388 – 3cab – Orca
SPORTY SAILING PLEASURE ACROSS THE BOARD. THE HANSE 388 An exceptional yacht that stands for sailing pleasure without compromise, the Hanse 388 provides pleasure in enjoyment, sun, water, and wide views. And in a comfortable life on board with lots of space, in carefree and dynamic sailing. On this innovative yacht, everything is possible. And it looks outrageously gorgeous.<!-- AddThis Advanced Settings generic via filter on get_the_excerpt --><!-- AddThis Share Buttons generic via filter on get_the_excerpt --><!-- AddThis Related Posts generic via filter on get_the_excerpt -->
Hanse 418 – 3cab – Mersina
Hanse 418: Break the rules "Breaking rules and setting trends" is the motto of Hanse and the 418 most certainly lives up to this promise. With large hull windows offering great views over the water, a glass companionway with complementing glass skylights at either side, the light inside the 418 is breathtaking. The interior is also laid out to maximize the living space within.<!-- AddThis Advanced Settings generic via filter on get_the_excerpt --><!-- AddThis Share Buttons generic via filter on get_the_excerpt --><!-- AddThis Related Posts generic via filter on get_the_excerpt -->
Hanse 458 – 4cab – Avra
Hanse 418: Break the rules "Breaking rules and setting trends" is the motto of Hanse and the 418 most certainly lives up to this promise. With large hull windows offering great views over the water, a glass companionway with complementing glass skylights at either side, the light inside the 418 is breathtaking. The interior is also laid out to maximize the living space within.<!-- AddThis Advanced Settings generic via filter on get_the_excerpt --><!-- AddThis Share Buttons generic via filter on get_the_excerpt --><!-- AddThis Related Posts generic via filter on get_the_excerpt -->
Beneteau Oceanis 51.1 – 6cab – Aloha
With taut lines, a new stepped hull and a stylish deck plan, the Oceanis 51.1 is the first of a new generation. Easy to handle, comfortable and smart, the number of customizations available has been increased to provide more than 700 combinations.
Hanse 508: Smarter, more elegant, and more comfortable than ever. The innovative new Hanse 508 is the perfect yacht for relaxed blue water sailing, with its progressive design and one of the most thrilling performance levels of its class. With a fascinating interior and an exceptionally diverse range of clever customization options. Hanse 508 lives up to the highest standards of flexibility, style, and quality of life. Let yourself be amazed by excellent luxury.<!-- AddThis Advanced Settings generic via filter on get_the_excerpt --><!-- AddThis Share Buttons generic via filter on get_the_excerpt --><!-- AddThis Related Posts generic via filter on get_the_excerpt -->
Lagoon 42: A sleek, modern design. This new member of the Lagoon family has style and a strong personality. While keeping a family resemblance and retaining the main features of the latest generation of Lagoons, it shows us a new path: unhurried evolution, a new “organic” approach, in search of harmony between living space and […]<!-- AddThis Advanced Settings generic via filter on get_the_excerpt --><!-- AddThis Share Buttons generic via filter on get_the_excerpt --><!-- AddThis Related Posts generic via filter on get_the_excerpt -->
Oceanis 40.1: Comfort & pleasure under sail Following in the wake of her elder sister the Oceanis 51.1, this 40-foot cruiser, with a new hull design by Marc Lombard, offers unrivaled deck volume and interior space, and there are no concessions to performance. The 12-meter long Oceanis 40.1 is available in different layouts, draughts, and rigs, adapting to the most demanding sailor’s cruising requirements and satisfying their need for comfort and pleasure under sail.<!-- AddThis Advanced Settings generic via filter on get_the_excerpt --><!-- AddThis Share Buttons generic via filter on get_the_excerpt --><!-- AddThis Related Posts generic via filter on get_the_excerpt -->
Bali 4.1 – 4+2cab – Micha
BALI 4.1 MAXI LOUNGE Evolution of the revolutionary BALI 4.0, the BALI 4.1 innovates once again. The BALI 4.1 is the first sailing catamaran, totally bridged from its bows to its back boards, offering a fully open and ergonomic living space. It also offers a large front cockpit with sunbeds, a relaxation area on the […]<!-- AddThis Advanced Settings generic via filter on get_the_excerpt --><!-- AddThis Share Buttons generic via filter on get_the_excerpt --><!-- AddThis Related Posts generic via filter on get_the_excerpt -->