Milos

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Milos

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	36°43.5′N, 24°27′E
	Photo gallery
	Local chartlet

Milos (Μήλος) or Melos is the southwesternmost island of the Cyclades and looks like a larger version of Thíra. It too, is a volcano but extinct, which had a huge eruption that created a large natural harbor in the sunken caldera. The area of the island is 161 km² with the summit of Profitis Ilias rising 883 m (2897 ft) above sea level. The volcanic nature of the island has endowed it with a very dramatic beauty many-fiord like beaches with strange rock formations and with many colors. Unfortunately, because of its mineral wealth, the island is heavily mined and a lot of its scenery has been raped by the miners.

The Caldera in Milos

The volcanic aspect of Milos is intertwined with its history. The island has been populated since the early Neolithic times because it was a rich source of obsidian the hard black volcanic glass with which some of the early tools and weapons were fashioned. The town at Phylakopi was settled by either Phoenicians or Cypriots was one of the centers of the early Cycladic Civilizations trading obsidian all over the Mediterranean. Later Milos under the Minoans from Crete and the Mycenaeans from the mainland continued to be a rich island trading in minerals.

In Classical times, the island's population was predominantly Dorian who were aligned with Sparta. During the Peloponnesian War, in 415 BC, Athens tried to persuade the Milians to change sides but they refused. Angered by this snub the Athenians laid siege on the island, and after several months, Milos surrendered. The Athenians, then, according to Thucydides, massacred all the men of fighting age, sold all the women and children into slavery, and resettled the island. During the 4th century BC the most famous sculpture of Milos, Venus de Milo, one of the most beautiful Greek statues of Aphrodite, the goddess of love, was created.

The Bay of Milos
Click for larger view

Milos became Christian as early as the 1st century AD. During this time, these early Christians built a complex of catacombs which is unique in Greece. After the fall of the Byzantines, Milos was captured by the Venetian brothers Marco and Angelo Sanudo and was placed under the Crispi dynasty. The Ottomans followed the Venetians in 1580. During this time the island was dominated by pirates who used Milos as their headquarters. One of them, John Kapsis even declared himself king of Milos. He lasted for three years until he was subdued by the Turks. After the Greek War of Independence of 1821, Milos became part of Greece and the Greek Navy got rid of the pirates. In 1836 refugees from Sfakia, Crete landed in Milos and founded the village of Adamas, the present harbor. During the Crimean War the French navy docked at the harbor and so did the British navy during World War I.

The modern story of Venus de Milo goes like this. On April 8, 1820, a farmer named Yiorgos Kentrotas, while plowing, discovered a cave that contained half of the statue. A French officer, Olivier Voutier, who happened to be on the island, urged the farmer to look for the other half. This he did along with a 6th century statue of a Hermes and Hercules. It is believed that these statues were hidden from destruction by the early Christians. At any rate, Voutier made a sketch of the statues and gave it to the French consul Lois Brest. Brest sent the sketches to the French ambassador in Istanbul, the island was still under the Ottomans, who decided to obtain the statue for his king Louis XVIII. Accordingly he sent a boat to get the statue. In the mean time, the farmer Kentrotas had already sold the statue to the Prince of Moldavia. When the French ship arrived at Adamas, the statue had been loaded in a caïque which was ready to sail for Romania. There was scuffle between the Greeks and the French who managed to get the statue. It seems that the missing arm of the statue was lost during this scuffle because Voutier's sketch shows both arms.

Charts

Satellite view of Milos
Click for larger view

BA

1037 Nisís Falkonera to Nísos Ios

1444 Nisos Milos to Nisos Paros

2682 Kólpos Patalion to Nísos Nísiros

Imray-Tetra

G32 Eastern Sporades, Dodecanese & the Coast of Turkey

G34 Southern Cyclades

NIMA

54320 Kiklades Nisoi to Kriti

Greek

41 Cavos Maleas to Cavos Kimis

415 Ydra to Sikinos

Radio Nets

Also see Cruiser's Nets

• Coast Guard - VHF channel 12 & Tel. +30 2870 22 100 (Adamas)
• Olympia Radio - VHF channel 82

Weather

See Aegean Sea.

Approach and Navigation

Caution: Approaching the Bay of Milos one must be aware of the rocks located at the eastern entrance of the bay. Also, there are rocks near Cape Bombarda.

Warning: With a strong meltemi there cane be large and confused seas between the Arcadia islets and the northernmost point of the island. Again, with a strong meltemi there can be very strong gusts near Cape Bombarda.

Check-in facilities

None.

Ports and Popular Stops

Ports

Adamas

Chart of Adamas - Chartlet
Click for larger view

36°43.5′N, 24°27′E
Adamas (Αδάμας) or Port Milos is the only harbor in Milos. It is near the end of Milos Bay, one of the largest natural harbors in the Mediterranean, which is the volcano's caldera. Because of the size of the bay there can be a rather uncomfortable ground swell and also the ferry wash can be substantial. The harbor provides quite good, if not always comfortable, shelter from the meltemi, but it is exposed to southerlies. Visiting yachts moor stern-to the small yacht quay, where there is space for around ten boats (although the depth shallows at the western end) or along the outside arm of the tripper boat harbour, where there is space for a further 10-12 yachts on an anchor moor. An alternative is to anchor off in the bay to the east, clear of the small craft moorings. Here the holding in the mud and weed bottom is good.

Caution: There are very strong gusts into the Bay. With S winds Adamas is NOT tenable. Better go to Patrikia at the S side of the Bay.

Side-to in Adamas
Click for larger view

Last Visited & Details Checked (and updated here)

Date of member's visit to this Port/Stop & this page's details validated:

• June 2001 --Istioploos

Anchorages

Patrikia

36°41.5′N, 24°26′E
Patrikia is just across from Adamas. Anchor where indicated , but be careful, the holding is not always very good. This cove affords a magnificent view of the Bay of Milos.

Last Visited & Details Checked (and updated here)

Date of member's visit to this Port/Stop & this page's details validated:

• October 1997 --Istioploos

Ayios Dhimitrios

36°43.8′N, 24°23.7′E
This is a cove on the S side of Milos Bay just off Cape Kalamaria. It is reputed to afford the best shelter from the S wind, although it can be very gusty. Some cargo ships use this cove.

Pollonia

36°45.9′N, 24°31.7′E Pollonia (Πολλώνια) or Apollonia is cove on the NW of Milos, just across from Kimolos. It provides good shelter from the meltemi but is exposed to the E. The little town has the concrete box style of architecture and is full of tourists. Not too attractive. Anchor at 2-4 m. The bottom is sand with good holding. Last Visited & Details Checked (and updated here) Date of member's visit to this Port/Stop & this page's details validated: June 2001 --Istioploos May 2009 -- Athene of Lymington Pollonia Click for larger view

Chart of Pollonia - Chartlet Click for larger view

Voudhia

Voudhia
Click for larger view

36°44.8′N, 24°32.1′E
This is a cove about 1 nM south of Pollonia. It affords good shelter from the meltemi. It is surrounded by mines and it is dusty and noisy during the day. Small ships come here to load oar.

Anchor at 5-8 m.

Last Visited & Details Checked (and updated here)

Date of member's visit to this Port/Stop & this page's details validated:

• October 1997 --Istioploos

Marinas & Yacht Clubs

None.

Yacht Services and Repairs

Also see each Port

Marine Stores

Only fishing supplies.

Yacht Services/Repairs/Yards

Mr. Vichos of the Andromeda Diving does minor repairs on outboards. Ask at the information bureau across from the ferry mole.

Fuel, Water, & Electricity

Fuel

Fuel is delivered in Adamas by a mini tank. Ask at the information bureau across from the ferry landing

Water

On the quay in Adamas

Electricity

N/A (Not Available)

Offshore Islands

• Kimolos
• Poliegos

Tourism and Things to do Ashore

Tourism

[[Image::Milos2.jpg|200px]] Street in Plaka

Inside the Catacombs Click for larger view

The Roman Theater

The Site of Phylakopi

Papafrangos Cave

Sarakiniko

The Cove of Gerontas

From Adamas

Near Adamas there are many good beaches, the most well known and largest is the sandy beach of Chivadilimni, near the airport.

Plaka

Plaka (Πλάκα) is Milos' main town. It and its suburb, Tripiti, are lovely Cycladic towns. From the church at the top Venetian castle, Kastro, the view is breathtaking. There are two museums here: the Archaeological Museum (open every day except Mondays 8:30-15:00), it has a plaster cast of Venus de Milo and a small but interesting exhibit of Cycladic objects found in the Phylakopi excavation (alas the best objects from the excavations are now in the National Museum in Athens), and a small but interesting Ethnographic Museum (open Tuesday-Saturday 10:00-13:00 and 18:00-20:00), housed in a 19th century mansion, each room is furnished with typical and original furniture of the last century. There are many old photographs, utensils, costumes, embroideries etc.

Near Plaka at Klima there are the Catacombs of Milos (open daily except Mondays 8:45-14:00). These were used by the early Christians as a burial ground. Inscriptions, in red, can still be read. A path from the Catacombs leads to the spot where Venus de Milo (now at the Louvre) was found. The same path leads to the Roman Theater overlooking the sea.

East of Plaka one can visit the picturesque fishing villages of Mandrakia and Firopotamos with colorful boat houses.

Phylakopi

Phylakopi (Φυλακωπή) or Phylakope is the "must see" archeological site of Cycladic Civilization. It located on NE side of the island, on a hill top overlooking the sea. The habitation of the site goes back to the early Cycladic (3500 BC) to the Mycenaean (1100 BC).

Near Phylakopi is the Papafrangos Cave, an underwater cave with very clear turquoise water enclosed by white cliffs. Also, on the way to Phylakopi from Adamas stop at Sarakiniko, a beach with the most fantastic volcanic rock formations jutting into the sea. The rock color is many shades of tan and white and they are very beautiful in their way.

Gerontas

Gerontas (Old Man), on the S side of the island, is a jewel of a tiny cove, with dark sand. It is hard to reach by a dirt road and then b a very rough path. It is best to come on a Sunday because on weekdays the dust and noise from the nearby open mine may spoil the whole ambiance.

Grocery & Supply Stores

• There is a good number a food stores in Adamas

Eateries

• There are many restaurants on the waterfront in Adamas. The Barko is quite good

Internet/WiFi

In cafés.

Laundry

There is a laundry to to the right of the main street in Adamas.

Motorbike & Car Rentals

There are several rental places in Adamas.

Garbage Disposal

There are bins around the harbor and in several anchorages.

Transportation

There regular flights and ferries from Milos.

Routes/Passages To/From

• Cruising the Cyclades Islands

Cruiser's Friends

Contact details of "Cruiser's Friends" that can be contacted for local information or assistance.

Forum Discussions

List links to discussion threads on the Cruiser Log Forum

External Links

• Milos (Wikipedia)
• Venus de Milo

References & Publications

See Greece.

Last Visited & Details Checked (and updated here)

See individual ports in this page.

Personal Notes

Personal experiences?

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