The Catacombs of Milos are the first major community cemetery that have been found from the early Christian period. They were discovered in 1840's and it is estimated that they were built towards the end of the 1st century. The underground system of the catacombs with halls and corridors carved in the soft vulcanic rock is impressive. They say that the catacombs involve the whole hill between Tripiti and Klima with about 300 tombs. Some tombs have painted decorations or parts of inscriptions.

Tripiti

History & Culture

The mining Museum of Milos is located in Adamas village. Since it officially opened to the public in 1998, the museum can teach us about how mines and minerals have affected the history of the island. The museum exhibits a collection of stones and minerals. The geological history of the island is presented with help of objects, photographs and short movies that depict the impressive mineral wealth of Milos. You can also find tools and equipments that were used in the mines.

Adamas

History & Culture

A small, local cheese factory is located in the small village of Pachena. Pay a visit in the small store and try some of the homemade cheese. They have several different types of cheese, all made of goatmilk.

Pachena

Food

Glaronissia are four very small islands without inhabitants located northeast of Milos, close to the coastline of Pollonia village. The islands look like organ pipes with 20 meter high basalt blocks which are quite impressive. They are in the shape of hexagons. The basalt rocks are said to be like large mineral glasses created under a huge pressure. The island can only be seen from a boat.

Glaronissia island

History & Culture

You like sweets? Try some of the ice cream or other sweets in this small, decorated store in Adamas village. All the ice creams are homemade and they offer many different flavours. The classic one is the chocolate taste. You find Aggeliki ice cream shop in Adamas village close to the port.

Adamas

Food

The Monastery of Agios Ioannis Siderianos is located in an almost deserted area on a hill on the western part of Milos. The monastery can be reached through a dirt road. According to the locals the monastery has a special religious power. In the Medieval period some locals locked themselves inside the monastery in order to be protected from a pirate attack. During their stay they prayed to the saint and at the same time the wooden door turned into iron. That also explains the name of the monastery ("Siderianos" means "iron" in greek). Today only a few monks live here.

Triades

Culture & Religion

Scirocco restaurant serves ”vulcanic food” at the beach of Paliochori. If you dig down in the sand on the beach you will feel the sand is heated up by vulcanic activity. At some spots of the beach the sand reach a very high temperature. Scirocco restaurant found a special way to cook their food in clay pots on this natural heat and create unique dishes.

Paliochori

Food

In Pollonia there is a small, traditonal winery, named "Konstantakis Cave Winery". They make a small production of wine every year. Visit the beautiful winery located in natural caves and have a small wine tasting in the garden. You can also have a small walk around in the vineyards around with winery.

Pollonia

Beverage

The ancient theater of Milos was built on a rocky slope overlooking the Aegean sea built by the romans in the 3rd century BC. Today we only find some ruins left from the beautiful construction. The ancient theater used to organize theater festivals. Still the inhabitants have continued to organize many cultural events nowadays. The statue of Venus de Milo was found in 1820 by a local farmer in this area. The theater is located close to Tripiti village, above Klima and near The Catacombs of Milos.

Tripiti

Culture & History

Milos has a great network of accessable dirt roads and footpaths. This hike leads you mainly through the beautiful, wild landscape of the island with the crater of the vulcano. The still active vulcano has hydrogen sulfide holes, caves, soft rocks and smell. The hike starts from Zefiria village and goes to the airport and the greenhouses used by the farmers. You will now continue through an area in between two hills which are parts of the volcano. Soon you will find a special scenerie which resembles to a grass field but after searching a bit you will be able to locate the geysers from the vulcano. From the top of the volcanic area there is a nice view of hidden beaches and white cliffs, and even the port of Adamas and Plaka if you look towards north. Very close from here you find Agia Kyriaki beach. The walk is about 5 kilometers and takes about 2 hours.

Agias Kirakis

Hiking

Kastro was the Venetian castle of Milos built in 13th century in order to protect the locals from pirates and enemies. The castle did not have any fortification walls as it was the case with most of the Cycladic castles, instead it was protected by the walls of the residencies. Kastro also distinguishes from its Medieval architecture with the stone houses, the paved paths and the houseyards. Today two nice churches are found in Kastro; The church of The Assumption of the Virgin Mary or Panaghia Skiniotissa and the church of Panaghia Thalassitra. The remains of the settlement are found at the highest point of Plaka village. It is recommended to walk to the top of Kastro and enjoy the breathtaking sunset with a panorama view of Milos and the view of the endless Aegean Sea.

Plaka

History & Culture

The Archaeological Museum of Milos is located in Plaka. The museum is housed in a Neoclassical designed in 1870 by the famous architect E. Ziller. The museum opened in 1985. One of the most important exhibits in the museum is the copy of Venus de Milo statue which was made in the workshop of the Louvre Museum where the original satue is located today. It was found by a farmer in 1870 in the area of Tripiti village. In the museum you also find a great numbers of exhibits from the prehistoric like sculptures, marble and pots.

Plaka

History & Culture

Milos is an interesting island for snorkeling because of the combination of crystalclear water and the unique rock formations and caves around the island. Some of the most important snorkeling places are Sarakiniko, Papafragas, Sikia and Kleftiko at the coastline of Milos together with Glaronissia island. The colorful, vulcanic coastline is just ready to get explored underseas.

Milos

Water

The nature of Milos reminds us often about the mining history in the area. Especially the Sulphur Mines located on the eastern part of the island above Paliorema beach. The mines were used from 1890 to 1960 with some interruptions in between. If you visit the mines you will be able to imagine how it used to work due to the remains of the buildings, galleries, bridges and rails and almost intact machines like wagons on the tracks and spare parts in store rooms. It needed about 200-300 workers to operate the mines. The workers had very hard work conditions. They used to stay in Paliorema for the whole week and went only home to their families during weekends, crossing the island by foot. The job was very unhealthy due to dust and extremely hot temperatures. Sickeness like lung infections, tuberculosis, blindness and work accidents have been reported. The average annual production is stated as 2000 tons sulphur.

Paliorema

History & Culture

The Folklore & History Museum of Milos is housed in a 200 years old mansion located next to Panagia Korfiatissa church in Plaka. The museum was established in 1967 and here you can learn more about the life of the Melians after the 17th century. The museum is small but has some interesting rooms which exhibits traditional costumes, furnitures, tools and old photographs in order to understand the daily activities and habits.

Plaka

History & Culture

You need to go by boat in order to visit several beaches of Milos and some nearby islands. There are daily boats going around the area from Adamas and Pollonia. There are for example boats from Pollonia to Papafragas beach, Kimolos island and Glaronissia island (the Seagull Islands). From Adamas there are for example boats to Sikia and Kleftiko. The view of the landscape of Milos from the sea is truely impressive!

Pollonia & Adamas

Transportation

Milos has a great network of accessable dirt roads and footpaths. This hike leads you through beautiful nature and some of the historical areas of the island. This is just one of the various hikes combining Tripiti and the historical sites. You can also extend the hike with Adamas and Klima. The hike starts from Tripiti village where it is possible to visit the windmills on the small hill. From here you go downhill and find The Catacombs of Milos. After a visit at The Catacombs of Milos you walk to the Ancient Theater by going up the stairs for the return and follow the path to the left. From there you follow the path to the right and you find yourself on top of the Ancient Theater making a turn on the small dirt road to the left. Soon you reach the baptism area and when you do so you will continue walking towards the small chapel of Profitis Ilias. The chapel is going to be visible on the top of the hill in front of you. You will pass through a field and after climbing about 50 stairs you will reach the chapel with a magnificent view. When you return you will follow the same road that took you there and keep going towards the baptism area untill you find an information sign that will point you to the location where Venus of Milos was found.

Tripiti

Hiking

Milos has a spectacular coastline with unique rock formations that is perfect to explore by kayaking. When you paddle in the crystalclear water you will find sea caves, tunnels and arches. Except the coastline it is also possible to explore nearby uninhabited islands. In between the activity you can relax on the secluded beaches.

Examples; Kleftiko and Papafragas

Water