Greece-Cyclades Islands

Greece- The Cyclades Islands (3)
The Cyclades - is a Greek beautiful island group in the Aegean Sea;

The Cyclades comprise about 220 islands, the major ones being Amorgós, Anáfē, Ándros, Antíparos, Dēlos, Eschátē, Íos, Kéa, Kímōlos, Kýthnos, Mēlos, Mýkonos, Náxos, Páros, Folégandros, Sérifos, Sífnos, Síkinos, Sýros, Tēnos, and Thēra or Santoríni. Most of the smaller islands are uninhabited.

Sifnos Island -  is an island municipality in the Cyclades island group in Greece. The main town, near the center, is known as Apollonia (pop. 942) home of the island's folklore museum and library. The village's name is thought to come from an ancient temple of Apollo on the site of the church of Panayia Yeraniofora. The second-largest town is Artemonas (744), thought to be named after an ancient temple of Apollo's sister-goddess Artemis, located at the site of the church of Panayia Kokhi. The village of Kastro (101), built on top of a high cliff on the beautiful island's northwestern shore on the site of the ancient city of Siphnos, today has extensive medieval remains and is the location of the island's archeological museum;

Syros Island or Siros or Syra is a Greek beautiful island in the Cyclades, in the Aegean Sea. It is located 78 nautical miles (144 km) south-east of Athens. The island is home to the municipalities of Ermoupoli, Ano Syros, and Poseidonia. Ermoupoli is the capital of the island and the Cyclades. It has always been a significant port town, and during the 19th century it was even more significant than Piraeus.

Sikinos Island - is a Greek island and community in the Cyclades. It is located midway between the beautiful islands of Ios and Folegandros. It was known as Oinoe (Island of Wine) in Ancient Greece. It contrasts with nearby islands, such as Ios, in being quiet and relatively less developed. There are two villages, one being a harbor, and the other higher up in the hills. There are a handful of tavernas in the harbor. The beautiful beach at the harbor is one of two large sandy beaches on the island. Several ancient ruins rest on the island, although some are remote. There are only 2 paved roads, although a third is being built to connect the nascent heliport and eventually a new resort on the other sandy beach, and there are several well-maintained dirt roads. Much of the island is very difficult to access due to the terrain. Nearly all of the island's area is covered by terraces once used for extensive agriculture. Now only a handful are used across the island, most operating on government subsidies. The community had a 2001 census population of 238 inhabitants;

Tinos Island- is a Greek beautiful island situated in the Aegean Sea. It is located in the Cyclades archipelago. In ancient times, Tinos was also known as Ophiussa (from ophis, Greek for snake) and Hydroessa (from hydor, Greek for water). The closest islands are Andros, Delos, and Mykonos. It has a land area of approximately 194 square kilometres and a 2001 census population of 8,574 inhabitants.

The beautiful island is located near the geographical center of the Cyclades island complex, and because of the Panagia Evangelistria church, with its reputedly miraculous icon of Virgin Mary that it holds, Tinos is also the center of a yearly pilgrimage that takes place on the date of the Dormition of the Virgin Mary. This is perhaps the most notable and still active yearly pilgrimage in the region of the eastern Mediterranean. Many pilgrims make their way the 800 metres from the ferry wharf to the church on their hands and knees as sign of devotion.

Source: Wikipedia