A Butterfly-Shaped Picture Perfect Island

If you Google search “the butterfly of the Aegean,” this is what you get: “The shape of Astypalaia resembles the shape of a butterfly.”

The more you zoom in on Google Maps, the more islands you see surrounding Astypalaia.

island astypalaia

This is not the typical tourist’s Mykonos-like or Santorini-like destination! Astypalaia (meaning “old city”) is a small island that geographically belongs to the Dodecanese region … just west of Santorini Island. It is essential that you can … fly to the island!

Tourism in Astypalaia has only been developed on the island over the last few years, but there are enough facilities for comfortable holidays.

The island, seen from above, has two distinct sections joined by a narrow stretch of land less than 100 m. wide.  The island is divided into the western/inner island and the eastern/outer island by a sandy strip of land 100 meters long, “Steno”. Without this strip, Astypalea would be two separate neighboring islands.

Chora is the island’s capital town and port. It is one of the most picturesque towns in the Aegean, sitted on a rock that advances into the sea, forming two bays.

On the top, you will see Chora’s castle with the white domes of Evangelistria and Saint George churches. Below and around the castle, lie Chora’s unique houses with the whitewashed walls, blue doors & windows, and wooden balcony rails.

Eight preserved traditional windmills in Chora, line the path to the Castle. They are the trademark of the island and probably the most picturesque spot of the Chora.

In the old days and as the centuries progressed, little white houses began to appear outside the walls of the Castle (Chora) and finally reached the port (Pera Yalos).

Chora was the only settlement on the island until the 19th century. Nowadays, Pera Yalos, with the yacht marina, is the seaport of Chora.

The all white church of Panagia Portaitissa stands beneath the Castle in Chora and it is was built in the middle of the 18th century.

A unique & truly romantic island with the beautiful beaches, a glorious sunrise & deep blue coastlines

Analipsi, also known as Maltezana, is a seaside village in the outer part of the island with a beautiful sandy beach and a long jetty for fishing boats. Located approximately 9 km from Chora, it was named after the Maltese pirates, who pillaged the Aegean and found refuge in the island’s sheltered bays. The Ottoman pirate Hayreddin Barbarossa, who secured Ottoman dominance over the Mediterranean during the mid-16th century, conquered the island of Astypalaia in 1537 and was using Maltezana bay for his naval victories.

Vathy is nestled in an almost closed-off bay with an opening of just 50 meters, creating a secluded and picturesque atmosphere.

It is divided into two parts: Exo Vathy, located at the mouth of the bay, and Mesa Vathy, situated on the inlet of the bay. Mesa Vathy is characterized by its serene surroundings, with lush fields, a quaint church, a welcoming tavern offering delicious local cuisine, a handful of traditional houses, and a small dock dotted with a few fishing boats.