DONOUSA ISLAND

Donousa is a real paradise, away from the pressing rhythms of modern life and of bustling tourist resorts, for those who want to enjoy nature and experience the authenticity of the place and its people. Life in Donousa is serene and has a simplicity that charms and relaxes its visitors. Donoussa is a small paradise, with a rocky terrain and a series of successive bays interrupted by small, dreamy beaches; the sea colored in all shades of blue. Excavations on the island have unearthed remains of a Geometric period settlement, and housing remnants dating from the Bronze Age indicate that the island has been inhabited since ancient times. The “twin” churches of Panagia and Agios Ioannis, a unique architectural cluster where the two basilicas are linked under a small belfry, are found on the hill east of Stavros. The central street of the island connects Stavros with the other three settlements, Messaria, Mersini and Kalotaritissa on the north. In Mersini you will meet a century old plane tree and a source with running waters, which constitutes a rare sight in Cyclades, near the church of Agia Sofia with the splendid view. The first visitors came before 1980, before electricity had arrived in the island. After the construction of the port ,a new page was turned in the island’s modern history. The moderate touristic development makes it an ideal destination for those who want to enjoy nature and sea, a home away from home where you can mix with the locals and with other visitors. Small coves with many beaches, accompanied by the aromas of cedars, and of thyme and other herbs, add to the unique beauty of the island.