Aegina

Why Visit
According to the myth, 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!

Even though the island small, it boasts a great number of sights and natural beauties, highlight of which 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.

According to ancient mythology, Aegina owes its name to the nymph Aegina, daughter of the river god Asopus, who Zeus seduced and took on the island of Aegina, then called Oenone. There she gave birth to Aecus, first king of the island and grandfather of the famous Trojan hero, Achilles. Aecus renamed the island Aegina, in honour of his mother. Archaeological findings in Kolona, near the island's capital, prove that the history of Aegina starts from the Neolithic period, as the island has been inhabited since 3,000 BC.

Aegina saw its economical and naval power grow around the middle of the second millennium BC, developing its trade and carrying with its own ships local products to the Cyclades, Crete and the mainland Greece. To honor gods for this prosperity, the inhabitants built temples to them. In Kolona, there are also the remains of an ancient Temple to Apollo, while in the centre of the island, among mountainside, there is the temple of Ellanios Zeus.

The island's glory exploded during the 6th and 7th century BC, when its naval power reached the zenith of its development, its trade was at its best, extending even until Egypt and Phoenicia and because Aegina was the first part of Greece, even of Europe, to mint coins: the famous silver turtle coins, since the symbol of the island was the turtle. In these centuries, the island was very wealthy: those were the golden times of Aegina.

The powerful fleet of the island made a major contribution during the Battle of Salamis against the Persians, on the side of the Greeks. After the Persian defeat, Aegina continued to flourish and its inhabitants built the superb Temple of Aphaia. Unfortunately, things changed: the Athenians did not see the economical, social and naval glory of Aegina with a good eye. They attacked it in 459 BC and forced it to pull down its city walls and surrender its fleet.

After that, Aegina sank into geopolitical obscurity and lived the same history as the rest of Greece. The domination by Philip of Macedonia followed by the one of his son, Alexander the Great, then his successors, the Ptolemies of Egypt, the Roman rule (about 86 AD), followed by the Byzantine Times, the Venetian domination and the Turkish yoke until the Revolution of 1921.

Aegina played a major role in the Greek Revolution fighting against the Turks and during 1827 to 1829 the island was declared the temporary capital of the partly liberated Greece. That time the village flourished a lot and many institutions were built, such as the first secondary school in Greece and the Eunardios School by a Swiss banker. But, with the creation of the Modern Greek State in 1930, Aegina returned to its shadow and to its more humble position of first producer of pistachio nuts in Greece.

Museums - Archeological
Aegina is an island with a mythical tradition and a history that begins from the Neolithic times. The many ancient sites that exist in the surrounded regions enrich its heritage parts of which can be seen today at the several museums.

Of high interest is the Archaeological Museum of Aegina, known as the first museum that was ever estabished in Greece. Its world famous art collection includes magnificent findings from the archaic era, as well as various statues and sculptures from the ancient Temple of Aphaia.

A visit at the Folklore and Historical museum should not be missed offering a nice view to the local tradition and history through an extensive collection that consists of books, documents, furniture and objects of daily use.

In the picturesque neighborhood of Plakakia lies the Christos Kapralos Museum, the workshop of the artist dedicated to the life and work of the famous sculptor. Close to the ancient site of Aphaia lies a small museum. All the exhibits come from the archaeological excavations including architectural parts and smaller items.

Beaches
Souvala, Marathon, Agia Marina beach, Perdika beach

Religious Monasteries and Churches
Aigina, one of the most charming islands of the Saronic is home to a fine collection of monasteries and churches that reflect the ancient history of the island with many myths about the saints. Religious festivals are organized throughout the year, but the most important takes place on the feast day of Agios Nektarios, on November 9th.

The monastery of Agios Nektarios stands on a hill, in the medieval village of Paleochora, 6 km from the main town. It was named after its founder, the monk Nektarios who lived in the monastery until his death in 1920. As for today, the active female monastery is visited by thousands of faithful every year and includes many chapels and buildings.

Panagia Hrysoleondissa is a beautiful convent sitting on the hills of Aegina. Away from the crowds, surrounding by strong walls, the whole complex looks like a fortress. It was actually built on the 17th century by two monks and consists of cells, many rooms, a beautiful courtyard in the middle of which stands a Byzantine church. Today it is accessible by a footpath that begins from Agios Nektarios. It is worth visiting for its breathtaking mountainous setting.

At a 15 minutes walk from the port of Aigina you can reach the impressive underground church of Panagia Faneromeni, one of the most unique pilgrimages of the island that houses the miraculous icon of the Virgin. According to a legend, the building that was to be erected right on top of the church, remained unfinished due to a vision that the architect saw telling him that he had to dig instead of building. The next day that he begun working underground he found the beautiful icon.

A significant religious monument in Aegina is the known Omorfi Ekklisia (beautiful church) a small 13th century chapel dedicated to Agioi Theodoroi. It is located close to the town and houses superb frescoes. It coexists harmonically with the enchanting environment and is kept locked most of the days. In the area of Ancient Aphaia, on a salient location, amidst the pine tree forest visitors will see the female monastery of Agios Minas. It is a shelter for many faithful who seek for personal spirituality and peace. The beautifully built church of Agios Nikolaos, the Mitropolis of Aegina can be seen from the port along with some other whitewashed chapels that stand on the seafront promenade.