AEGINA

When Athenians want to swap the hustle and bustle of the big city for a little peace and quiet, they head to one of the nearby islands. For example, Aegina (Greek: Αίγινα), where they go to relax, enjoy the peace and quiet, swim and fish. The famous Greek writer Nikos Kazantzakis also stayed here, seeking peace and quiet to write.

Finds in the Kolona area and elsewhere confirm that Aegina was first settled in the Minoan period between 3500-3000 BC. A gold treasure from this period has been preserved and is now housed in the British Museum.

Around 950 BC, the Dorians came to the island and in 650 BC they minted their own silver coins. One side of the coins featured an image of a turtle, which was characteristic of the god Poseidon. During the 6th century BC, Aegina had a court of law and doctors.

In 480 BC, Aegina, together with the Athenians and other Greeks, took part in the naval battle of Salamis against the Persians, which they won.

Aegina, which was on friendly terms with Sparti, allied itself with Corinth in 459 BC. However, this did not please the Athenians, who attacked Aegina and occupied it within a few months. The Athenians forced Aegina to demolish its walls, and the inhabitants were obliged to pay taxes.

The island, like other places in Greece, then came under the rule of the Romans, Venetians, and Ottomans.

When the Turks declared war on Venice in 1537 AD, the leader of the Turkish fleet, Barbarossa, literally destroyed and burned Aegina. Only a few churches in Paleochora have survived. The first Turkish rule lasted from 1540 to 1687 AD.

Later, the Venetians recaptured Aegina and revived trade. From 1715 to 1821, the second Turkish rule came, which lasted until the revolution in 1821, in which Aegina played an important role.

In 1828, Aegina briefly became the first capital of Greece, with Ioannis Kapodistrias as its first governor.

In 1829, the capital was moved to Nafplio, and the population of Aegina declined significantly.

Aegina thus returned to its peaceful life.

Mythology

It is said that Aegina, after whom the island is named, was the most beautiful of the 20 daughters of the god Asopos. Zeus, father of the gods, fell in love with her, kidnapped her, and took her to the island of Oinoi, where their son Aiakos was born. Zeus made Aiakos king and, according to mythology, turned the ants on the island into humans so that he would have citizens. For this reason, the inhabitants of Aegina were called Myrmidons.

Aiakos married two women, Endeis, daughter of the centaur Chiron, with whom he had sons Pileas and Telamon, and Psamathe, a Nereid, with whom he had a son, Phocus.

Pileas and Telamon killed Phocus out of jealousy and then left the island. Pileas went to Thessaly, married Thetis, and had a son named Achilles. Telamon went to Salamis, married Eriboea (Periboea), and had a son named Aias (Ajax).

Aegina was the birthplace of Achilles and Ajax, two of the most important heroes of the Trojan War.

Aiakos never forgave Pileas and Telamon. He was pious and just, and after his death he became one of the three judges in the underworld alongside Rhadamanthus and Minos.

Places of interest

The most famous monument in Aegina is the Temple of Aphaia above the resort of Agia Marina, built around 490 BC. It is one of the best-preserved Doric shrines in Greece.

Paleochora, located on a hill with many churches and ruins of old houses, is reminiscent of the famous monasteries in Mystras. It was built around 896 AD to protect the inhabitants of Aegina from naval raids by Saracen pirates. In 1537 AD, it was plundered by the infamous pirate Barbarossa, who destroyed everything except the churches. To this day, only about 35 of the 350 churches with remarkable frescoes that existed in the past have been preserved, but they are not in good condition. There are many paths, water sources, wells, and cisterns in Paleochora. At the highest point is a castle with a fantastic view of Souvala Beach. The ruins of the walls and water reservoirs have been preserved.

Agios Nektarios Church and women's monastery.

Beaches on the island

The beaches on the island are mostly small and sandy.

The largest beach and tourist resort on Aegina is Agia Marina. Right in the town, below the archaeological site of Kolona, you will find Avra Beach. Other beaches include Souvala, Vagia, Portes, Marathonas, Eginitissa, Perdika, and Moni.

Don't miss

Aegina is also famous for its excellent pistachios, which are grown here on a large scale. Naturally, they say they are the best in the world. They are sold almost everywhere on the island.