Another island which is remote and tantalizing is Astypalaia. Of all the Dodecanese it is the nearest to the Cyclades, and is clearly seen from Santorin and Amorgos. Nevertheless, except for a chance caique, there is no communication sport ween them. Astypalaia is turned east, for on that side its great harbour lies, and its communications are with Rhodes, which is a long way away.
But it is not its remoteness that is the chief charm of this island. Its great bay, Maltezana, with its rocks and satellite islets is of great beauty; and the Chora (which from below looks strangely like that of Patmos, with a large castle in the place of the monastery of St. John) is a particularly attractive white village, chiefly distiguished by an enormous number of wooden balconies in criss-cross trellis-work. There is a line of nine windmills to one side, in varying stages of disrepair. Though facing Rhodes, and a part of the Dodecanese, the island has a marked Cycladic character.