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Greek Islands
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Gulf
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Aegina
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Aegina
island in Greece
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Aegina related
sites
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 The
Island of Aegina (Pronounced Eggina) is located in the
Saronic Gulf, 20km south-west of the Port of Piraeus. The
boat trip from Piraeus to Aegina Town takes 40 minutes by
hydrofoil and about one hour by ferry.
Aegina is a pine covered island with beautiful beaches,
picturesque villages, very important historical monuments
and modern tourist facilities.
Today Aegina, due to its proximity to Piraeus, has
became a place that attracts many Athenians during the
weekends, but is also a very popular destination for many
tourists. The beautiful landscapes, the inviting sea and the
enormous historical interest make Aegina an ideal place for
your vacation! |
refreshing the page will bring up more
Aegina Island related sites
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Ancient history |
It would appear that the first settlers came from the Peloponnese around
3500-3000 BC and built a suburb in the area of Colona as well as in the
Temple of Aphaea.
In the Early Bronze Age
(2500-2000BC), the Aegeans, a tribe similar to the Cretans came and settled
on Aegina. It seems that they developed trading links with Attica, the
Peloponnese, the Cycladic islands and Crete. This was cut short though by
the arrival of Greek tribes into the area, the Achaeans. However, this new civilization
was completely wiped out, possibly by an unexpected invasion and Aegina
fell silent.
The first actual recorded information about Aegina is the conquest of the
island by the Doreans of Epidavros in 950 BC. They chose Aegina as their
base in order to concentrate on the sea and trading, and soon became very
rich and powerful. These traders imported huge amounts of silver from
North Africa (where it had no value!) and introduced this as a means of
exchange. From this silver, the first coins were created which were
imprinted with the image of a turtle. Gradually, Aegina slipped into
decline. The traders turned their hand to money lending and Aegina became
a centre for borrowing and the seeds of destruction grew.
After the battle of Salamis,
Athens emerged as the foremost Greek City-State, competing at all levels
with the powerful Spartans and the Corinthians and the nearby Aegina, so
close and hostile represented a potential threat, which had to be
eliminated. After news reached Athens of an alliance between Aegina and
the Corinthians, Athens attacked and captured both Aegina's and the
Corinthians fleet. After this, Athens decided it wise to empty Aegina of
its inhabitants and once again, Aegina fell silent. |
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Medieval |
During this period, Aegina fell into the hands of many rulers: the
City-state of Pergamus (now Ismir in Turkey), the Romans, the Venetians,
the Ottomans, Venice again and then back to the Turks.
During
the 9th century, when pirates ruled the Mediterranean, the inhabitants
decided to abandon their capital, the port of Aegina and withdrew to the
interior to shelter from attacks by invaders. In 896 AD, a new town was
built near to where Agios Nektarios stands today. This area is, today,
called Paliachora and the medieval remains of several chapels and churches
can still be seen. Initially, Paliachora contained 365 churches though
only 28 now remain standing, some of which have interesting frescoes.
Paliachora remained as the capital of Aegina from the end of the 9th
Century to early in the 19th Century when the inhabitants began to return
to Aegina town.
In 1537,during the war between
the Venetians and the Turks, the island was destroyed by the notorious
pirate Barbarossa who slaughtered all the men on the island and took
thousands of women and children to the slave markets of the East. As time
went by, the remaining inhabitants seemed to adapt to piracy as a way of
life for themselves; a number of islanders would hide in the nooks and
crannies of the northern coastline and attack passing ships. |
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Modern history |
In the 19th century,
the inhabitants began to return to the port of Aegina and the first houses
were built around 1800. During this period, the island became a hiding
place and refuge for the wounded rebel fighters from the first steps of
the war of liberation from the Ottoman Empire. It was also here, that
widows and orphans from the war found refuge and once more, the waterfront
became a hive of activity.
Compared to
other parts of Greece, Aegina managed to maintain a rudimentary social
infrastructure and it was this that influenced the Revolutionary Assembly
of the Greeks to elect Aegina as the first capital of Free Greece (1827 -
1829) under the presidency of Ioannis Capodistrias.
Nafplion and
then Athens replaced Aegina as the capital of Greece, though Capodistrias
continued to operate from Aegina until his assassination in church there
in 1831. But during the short period as the country's capital, the island
managed to strengthen economic and social development on the island, and
for a short while, Aegina became the cultural and political centre of the
country. The first Greek Governor and his Government resided here for a
while and the country's first independent coin was minted here in 1829.
As would be expected, when
Aegina ceased to be the capital, it entered a new period of obscurity with
the inhabitants mainly living off shipping, fishing and agriculture;
though during World War Two, the seas were mined and supplies were in such
short supply that 2000 people on the island died of starvation. The
valleys now are planted with Pistachio trees, which produce the best in
Greece. However, due to this, the value of the land increased which
created a barrier to the initial influx of tourists.
Early tourists were mainly
Classicists and Phil Hellenes who were aware of the islands past and it
was only in the 1960s that tourism really began to take off. Many
Athenians and also foreign visitors built summer houses here. The first
wave of these were mostly intellectuals and artists, though gradually mass
tourism arrived in Aegina. |
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Aegina island today |
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Today, tourism is the main
income for the islanders, though there is still a certain amount of
fishing and agriculture, though this is mainly based on the Pistachio nut
which was introduced from Syria over 100 years ago and which prospered
well in the fertile soil and favourable climate of Aegina.
The island is full of life, as much from
the locals as from the visitors and the port of Aegina is still the second
busiest port in Greece, after Piraeus.
Nevertheless, there are still parts of the
island that remain as wild and untamed as ever. There are times in the
summer months when humans resemble ants, but in the winter months the
island returns to peace and solitude - as if those who are really in love
with the island refuse to forego the calm that settles here after the
visitors are gone.
On the Southern edge of the island lies
the small fishing village of Perdika (which literally translated means
"partridge"). This is perhaps one of the most picturesque spots
on the island, and also a good place to eat as there is a wide range of
taverns, many of whom specialise in fish dishes.
From these
taverns, you
have a relaxing view of the small fishing boats in the harbour and the
occasional sight of a fisherman tenderizing octopus by whacking it on the
rocks ! From Perdika, it is a short journey (approximately 10
minutes) by small boat across to the island of Moni.Sightseeing
- the spectacular temple of Aphaea, which was built in the 6th century BC, the archaeological and
folklore museum, the temple of Hellanios Dias (Zeus), Kapralo's museum
(with art and sculpture), Palea Hora (Byzantine Aegina), the monastery of
Agios Nektarios and many other interesting places.
- Neoclassical houses with loud colors, blue
domed sacred churches, traditional coffeehouses, stone paved uphill
alleys, picturesque horse carriages and gigs as well as beautiful fishing
boats, compose the enchanting icon that you will notice as soon as you
shall enter the port of the island of Aegina, where the peculiar white
washed church of Agios Nikolaos shall be welcoming you.
- The metropolis, the orphanage, the
government house, the ruins of the post roman fortification and of the
sanctuary of Hellanios Zeus, the baluster of the Doric sanctuary of Apollo
and the two interesting museums, which are all embellished even more by
the pure natural beauty and the sheer picturesqueness, are the main
sightseeing of the town of Aegina. Aegina, apart from the beautiful
homonymous town, also has numerous settlements that are outspread all over
the island and pulse with hospitable inhabitants, unique insular
mentality, amazing natural sites and interesting archaeological monuments.
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Aegina hotels Visit this page to find more about
Aegina
hotels
or, if you like me to assist you with
your choice, please
send me an e-mail with your questions and enquiries. I will be glad to reply and
assist you, wherever I possibly can. |
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