>Summer-Hotels>Kea

History
The history of island is lost in the antiquity, acquaintance from then with various names: Keos, Keioo, Ydroysa. The prehistorical habitation of island was confirmed with the recent excavation researches so much in Kefala (4000 bc) what in the peninsula of Saint Peace, in Easternly the coastal village Boyrkari. Fabulous residents of island are reported Telchines, while sovereign mythologic form existed Aristaios, son of Apollo and Nymph Kyrrinis, saved the island - but also other Cyclades from the drought. With travel s that it offered in Ikmaio in the taller top of island, it ensured cool winds (annual, etesian winds), that since then blow in Aegean the summer months. The island took his name from the hero Keo, that came here, at the delivery, from Naypactos in the dues of 12th century bc or the beginnings 11th. He remains however uncertain who precisely were his first resident. In any case the island was reached by Arcadians, Pelasgoi, Kares, Palms and Iones.
In the Historical Years, Kea had important acne and was constituted by four autonomous cities Ioylis, Karthaia, Karissia, Poiiessa. Kea existed homeland of many eminent men of antiquity. Some them are the poets Simonidis and Bakchylidis, the sophist Prodikos, the doctor Erasistratos, the philosopher Ariston. It also had great athletes in the Pan-Hellenic fights. The island was acquaintance in the antiquity and for a being peculiar custom (Keion law), according to which those who exceeded the 70th year of age suiciede with poison.

Following the chance of other Cyclades, became member of Athenian Alliance, it wasmember of Aitolikis Sympoliteias and was conquered in succession by the Macedonians, their Rodious and the Romen. It was then when it began her decline. In the Byzantine Season, contrary to other islands of Cyclades, it was not in oblivion and during the 13th century it was also conquered by the stomach problem ings therefore was controlled by various Venice families.
It had Big destructions during the war sport ween the Rusians and Turks (1770-1774) but also afterwards the defeat of what Lampros Katsonis, who used it for his base of operations. Generally speaking the island suffered from a lot of piratical raids. In the Revolution 1821 it took part active and was released with other Cyclades (1830).

Country or Ioylis

Capital of island is built amphitheatrical in side of hill (1.245 residents), far from the sea. It is constituted by four districts that maintain their built-up character. The white houses, narrow stone, dyed white roads, the many arcades, ruins of Enetic castle from where you have a unique view, compose the enchanting picture of Country.

Some sightseeings are:

In the region where was built the medieval castle was found the ancient citadel of Ioylidas, that was one of the four flourished cities of the island of Classic Years. There was saved his certain departments walls, traces from his holy Apollo, as well as residues from the medieval castle that was built in the 13th century by Dominiko Mikeli. For his manufacture was used building material from the temples of ancient citadel. Ancient building material is found built-in and in the houses of Castle.

In the Archaeological Museum of Country are exposed discoveries (sculptural, ceramics etc) from the excavations of the island. Appreciable the prehistoric girls, the acephalous statue of Victory.

In the BA of Country (1,5 km roughly) was found Leontas of Kea or Liontas, as call him the local. It is a imposing bulky sculpture, curved in slate rock, that is dated in Archaic Years. With lionta are connected many mythological deliveries of island.

Also many churches of Country, with the appreciable pictures, Panagia Gamila, Panagia Rematiani, Saint Spyridona, Eyaggelismo or Dimotikia, as well as the devastated monasteries of Saint Anna in the BA of Country and Laurel in the westerners. The last monastery had built Filothei Athenian in order to save Athenians from the harems of Turks.

From the Country we reach in the monastery of Bishopric of Country, in the monastery of Saint Panteleimona, in imposing locality in the top of mountain, as well as in the monastery of Saint Marina (5 km in southly-western the Country), that is built in Rematia, round a square three-floored hellenistic tower, from the best maintained of its type in Cyclades.

Korissia

It is the harbor of Kea which local people calling it Meadow. It abstains from the Country 5,5 km and it is built in the place of ancient city, that brought the same name. Here was discovered one of the most important sculptures of Archaic Years, koyros of Kea, that is exposed in the National Archaeological Museum of Athens. It has 542 residents.

Some sightseeings are:

Walls' Relic and his some towers in the hill of Saint Sabba and near the church of Saint Trinity, where they was also found holily Apollo, Venus and Neptune.

In the region of Kefalas came in the light a important installation of neolithic years one of the ancientest in Cyclades. In the graves that were excavated were found appreciable ceramic discoveries, which prove the narrow contacts of island, that season, with Attica.

Kountouros

Tourist settlement, 17 km ND from the Country, that assembles many visitors in summer, thanks to his beautiful sandy beaches and his leeward bights.

Some sightseeings are:

Ancient Karthaia that are found in innaccessible region in the southern side of island, in the watercourse of torrent Bathypotamos. Today she is acquaintance with the name Poles. In the antiquity it was the most important city of island. Ther re saved his relic walls that surrounded the city, the foundations of temples of Athina, Apollo and Dimitra, departments of ancient theater and aqueduct.