Aegina(Greece)

 Aegina

The island of Aegina is one of the most popular tourist destinations as it is the closest island to Athens (only 16.5 nautical miles from the port of Piraeus).

According to myths, the island took its name from a nymph - daughter of the river God Asopos - whom Zeus fell in love with and took with him to the island! From 11/1/1827 until 3/10/1829 Aegina town was the temporary capital of the newly founded Greek state. It was during that period when Governor Ioannis Kapodistrias had impressive neoclassical mansions built to house his headquarters, which are well worth a visit.

Discovering the Island

Even though the island is small, it boasts a great number of sights and natural beauties. The island’s highlight is the famous Aphea Temple. It forms in fact an equilateral triangle with the Parthenon and the Temple of Poseidon at Sounion, the so-called “holy triangle” of the antiquity. Aegina town, the capital of the island, stands out for its well-preserved buildings. On the outskirts you can find charming little villages with distinctive traditional character, such as Agia Marina, Perdika, Souvala, Kypseli, Agii and Vagia. Aegina is also surrounded by many smaller islands such as Moni, Metopi, Diaportia, Lagouses, Kyra, Dorousa, Spalathonisi, Anonyma that you can visit by boat from the port of Aegina.

During your stay on the island don’t miss:

1. In the town of Aegina visit:
2. Archaeological Museum of Kolona, Aegina,
3. Markellos Tower built by Markellos, a 1821 War of Independence hero and later Governor of the island, which now houses the Kapodistrias Spiritual Center,
4. Kapodistrias Orphanage, the first public building during Kapodistrias’ administration,
5. Eunardeio, a 1829 building in Doric style and
6. Aegina Cathedral, the first Cathedral of the Modern Greek State, which also housed Kapodistrias Government and the first parliament of the modern Greek State.