Description of the attraction
Donousa is a picturesque Greek island in the Aegean Sea. It is the easternmost island of the Lesser Cyclades group. Donousa Island is located about 15 km east of Naxos and 25 km north of Amorgos. The area of the island is only about 14 sq. Km.
Very little information about the history of Donousa has survived to our times. Archaeologists believe that the island was inhabited as early as the early Bronze Age (the heyday of the Cycladic culture, 3rd millennium BC). Probably in the 10-7th centuries BC. the island flourished, as evidenced by the remains of a well-fortified settlement and burial site found in the southeastern part of the island dating from the Geometric Period. During the Roman Empire, the island was a place of exile, and in the Middle Ages it was used by pirates as a refuge. During the domination of the region by the Ottoman Empire, the island was already inhabited.
Today, a tiny, but incredibly beautiful and practically untouched by mass tourism islet of Donousa is a real paradise for lovers of peace and solitude, who want to relax away from the bustle of the city. The island is famous for its many magnificent beaches, among which the beaches of Kedros, Stavros, Livadia, Fikio, Mesa Amos, Kalotaritissa, Limni, Tripiti and Vati Limenaria deserve special attention.
The main settlement of the island is the port of Donousa (or Stavros). Here you will find some excellent taverns where you can enjoy excellent local cuisine, cafes, mini market, bakery, as well as a small selection of accommodation and one of the best beaches on the island.
Among the attractions of Donousa, it is worth noting the Church of the Holy Cross, the Church of Panagia, the abandoned village of Messaria, old windmills, the ruins of a geometric settlement, the churches of Hagia Sophia and St. John, as well as two unusually beautiful caves - Fokospilia and the Cave of the Wall.
You can get to Donousa Island by ferry from the port of Piraeus, as well as from the islands of Naxos and Amorgos.
