THE CYCLADES SEEN AS NEVER BEFORE

Early in the morning – taxi to Piraeus and boarding for Syros for a sailing of 4:00 hours. Accommodation at the hotel.

In the afternoon visit of the Upper Town (Ano Syros) medieval agglomeration, the first part of the island inhabited with the Cathedral of St. Georges and the Monasteries of the Jesuits and Capuchins.

Stop in one of these small taverns to discover the famous gastronomy of Ano Syros.

The land of Syros is arid and razed by the meltemes of August and the winds of the north of winter but you can meet a wide variety of plants and herbs.

A local restaurateur from Ano Syros will invite us to an original gastronomic journey where local products will be in the spotlight.

His pots will be held in the small kitchen of a small restaurant. The greedy and generous local cuisine, full of sun and heat, will be represented by dishes such as jack mackerel with capers, wild fennel dumplings, homemade puff pastry stuffed with fresh local cheese, aubergines au gratin with Saint-Michalis local cheese, summer vegetables sauteed with olive oil, beans with aioli. Access by taxi or bus and the rest of the visit on foot. About 2 hours of walking.

In the morning visit the historic center of the city (walking access).

The beautiful Place Miaoulis, named after the admiral hero of Greek independence whose statue sits in front of the white marble paved esplanade on which the pigeons and children run, and the imposing City Hall, the largest in Greece, at the top of its flight of steps.

The square is surrounded by beautiful buildings, elegant balconies, arcades to host the tables of bistros, etc. The center of Ermoupolis was designed by European architects, and the city is both intensely Greek and surprisingly cosmopolitan, like the “Apollo” theater, which is a smaller scale reproduction of … .the Scala of Milan!

To the right side of the town hall, you can see the imposing building of the library, whose smell of old paper passes the double door. And finally, the visit of the impressive Orthodox Church of St. Nicholas and the private palaces of the aristocratic district of Vaporia and Apollo Street. About 3 hours of walk – free evening

Visit to a factory producing Turkish delight, then the Museum of Industry and the countryside of the island (access by bus).

Syros Loukoum is the most famous local product of Syros!

The story of Syrian Loukoum comes to the island from the first refugees of Chios, who brought their knowledge with them.

The first official stamp of a Loukoum producer (Stamatelakis) appeared in 1837. Syros was full of Loukoum production until 1960 and each of these manufactures had its own product.

The recipe has only three essential ingredients: water, sugar and starch. The producer puts the ingredients in a cauldron that is on fire, where the Turkish delight is stirred constantly until the mix is ready – depending on the producer’s experience. Then, spread the product on a floured sheet for 1 day. Powdered sugar is added and then the Turkish delight is cut into small pieces.

It is said that the water of Syros and the climatic conditions make the Loukoum a unique delight. The visitor will find it with different flavors: mastic, rose, almond, peanut, coconut, bergamot etc. About 4h-free evening

Departure at noon by ferry to Tinos. Accommodation at the hotel.

In the afternoon visit of the church of Panaghia Evanghelistria, a classical orthodox sanctuary built in marble from Paros and Tinos, crumbling under the gilding, ornaments and ex-votos hanging from the ceiling.

Visit to the museum of paintings, beautiful furniture and very interesting objects, visit to the exhibition of donations and archaeological museum..

Curiosities well-hidden to discover: On the port an old Turkish house with an inner courtyard, which in the past had in its center a jet of water.

From the port, when we go up the street lined on the right side of a bank, and on the left of a pharmacy, we take the first right and after the first coffee on the right, we enter it we cross it and at the bottom, we discover an old hammam where we can savor an ouzo-mezzés the best of Tinos.

Finally, we enter the beautiful building of the Tinos Civilization Foundation that runs along the old port to discover an art exhibition! About 3h – Free evening

Tour of the island by bus. Departure at 11:00 and return at 17:00

About fifty villages, jewels adorned with the country’s marble, some of which are worth a visit for their picturesque architecture or their particular environment.

Itinerary: Chora of Tinos- The monastery of Kechovuni-Volax, village built in the middle of a chaos of rocks – Loutra with the Ursuline catholic monastery – Krokos – Perastra – Κomi – Kato Klisma – Κalloni – Santa Marina – Κardiani – Isternia – Pyrgos (village with a long tradition of marble sculpture, visit the marble museum and the birthplace of the great Greek sculptor Hiannoulis Xalepas) – Panormos-Τarabados (with countless dovecotes some of which date from the time of the Venetians) – Κabos – Τripotamos – Chora of Tinos.

About 6h – Free evening

Beginning of the morning visit by bus or taxi of a cheese dairy where we will learn from the shepherd owner how the kefalaki, with its sacred character, offers a variety of flavors that go beyond the simple cottage cheese with a layer of cream between a melting heart and velvety skin and a craft factory of local wines around Chora and finally a wonderful hike all along the Kionia bay (about 1:30 A / R) where are located the ruins of the sanctuary of Poseidon and Amphitrite which contained the statues of Poseidon and Amphitrite, nine cubits high, carved in the third century by the Athenian Télésias.

About 4h – Free evening

Departure at noon by ferry to Mykonos. Accomodation at the hotel.

Afternoon discovering and strolling in the capital Chora; the neighborhoods of Little Venice and Alefkandra with multicolored houses whose facades are reflected in the water .. the six picturesque windmills of Kato Myli will invite us to dream and to be photographed. At the foot of the hill, three small churches are built side by side, and the cathedral is close to the Roman Catholic Church of Panaghia Rodariou. Visit the Aegean Maritime Museum, Panaghia Paraportiani Church. In the district of Kastro, we will have the opportunity to see several old houses and the Museum of Folk Art, where are exposed antique furniture and works of art. We will complete the visit with the Archaeological Museum (pottery, jewelery, vases) and the House of Lena, 19th century mansion.

About 4h – Free evening

Beginning of the morning we take a taxi to discover two of the best kept secrets of Mykonos: A small organic farm in the hills sheltered from hordes of tourists and a local cheese factory in the vicinity of Chora.

The owner / producer of wine from the small organic farm offers to taste his products .. A small haven of peace lost in nature, cut off from the world! We are given explanations of how the products were made and we can taste several small dishes. The wines are excellent especially the local sweet red wine!

We also propose to visit a typical Mykonos cheese dairy: a company located in the heart of the Mykonos countryside. Several generations of cheesemakers, with identical values and know-how, succeeded each other in making the famous “Kopanisti” of Mykonos: a cheese ripened in the sun, with a very pronounced pungent taste, white in color of spread, made from goat’s, sheep’s, cow’s milk or a mixture of the three as well as “Xinotyra” (type of sour cheese). About 5h –

Free evening

Beginning of the morning visit with guide in caique of the small island of Delos. Arrival in Delos for a tour of the island and visit its museum. Delos is one of the smaller islands of the Cyclades, considered by the ancients as the center of the archipelago. It is sacred, according to legend, the birthplace of Apollo, the God of Sun and his sister Artemis. The island, a site protected by UNESCO and recognized as a cultural heritage, is uninhabited and looks like a beautiful outdoor museum. Half a day:

About 4h – Free evening

Option 1: Departure by boat in the morning, to reach Athens airport

Option 2: Departure by plane from Mykonos airport to France.