The Rest of Greece – the World’s Most Famous and Beautiful Cruising Grounds!

The Dodecanese Islands lie off the eastern edge of the Aegean Sea adjacent to the coast of Turkey. This is a major yachting center, the isle of Kos is one of the largest in the group of these 14 islands. The majority of these islands are the summits of a submerged mountain chain, and they rise majestically from the sea to create a fabulously beautiful cruising ground. The history of the region is reflected in the architecture of the modest whitewashed homes with colorfully painted doors and trim as well as in the more grand edifices in the cities castles, fortresses, monasteries, and churches perch on hilltops. The undersea waters are laced with caverns, walls, tunnels, and reefs of extraordinary beauty.
One the Island of Nisyros, about 24,000 years ago, an enormous volcanic blast took place. Today, there are three craters on Nisyros, with villages perched improbably at the rims. Medicinal hot springs are scattered throughout the island, many of which were used in ancient times. It is said that Hippocrates, the Father of Medicine, operated a therapeutic center at Thermiani Spring, near the port village of Palon.

On the Island of Rhodes, the historic and bustling city of Rhodes Town, one of the largest municipalities in the Greek isles, sailors will find a multitude of other attractions. In fact, it would be easy to spend an entire yacht charter sailing to the many harbors, such as the coastal cities and the magnificent ancient acropolis, and exploring inland of Rhodes.

Westward are the Cyclades Islands, jewels of undisputed beauty throughout the world and known for their historic significance, superlative beaches, and intriguing towns and villages. The Saronic Gulf and the Cyclades Islands are among the most beautiful and historic cruising grounds in Greece. On 196-foot cliffs gaze at white marble columns of the Temple of Poseidon, a sacred place for the Greeks in 440 B.C

Kea Isle is blessed with abundant springs and streams, making it one of the most beautiful of the Cyclades. In the time of ancient Greece, it was known as the Water Island and called Ydroussa. Greek mythology tells us of the water nymphs that live there.

The residents of Hermes tired of nearly 400 years of rule under the Ottoman Empire, decided in 1821 to begin a Greek revolution that established the independent state of Greece eight years later. The upheaval during the fighting caused many citizens to leave their homes and a number of entrepreneurial refugees settled on the shores of beautiful Syros in the heart of the Cyclades Islands. They established a town and named it after Hermes, the god of commerce, and soon Hermoupolis (Town of Hermes) ranked as the most important economic, maritime, and cultural center for the Greeks at that time.