Folegandros, Mediterranean island in the Cyclades, Greece
Folegandros is an island in the Cyclades featuring steep terrain and characteristic white buildings scattered across hillsides. The island is organized around three main settlements - the hilltop village of Chora, the port at Karavostasis, and the rural community of Ano Meria - connected by a network of roads and pathways.
The island came under Venetian rule in 1207 when Marco Sanudo took control, a regime that lasted until the Ottoman conquest in 1566. This long period of foreign governance left lasting marks on the island's architectural style and settlement patterns.
The island's way of life centers on fishing and farming practices that remain visible in daily routines and family traditions. The narrow streets of Chora preserve the character of a genuine Cycladic village where local crafts and customs continue to be passed down through generations.
Visitors should wear comfortable walking shoes since paths between settlements and to quieter areas involve steep terrain and uneven surfaces. Ferry services from Piraeus port and neighboring islands provide the main transportation routes to reach the place.
The village of Ano Meria functions as an open-air museum where traditional houses and farming tools display how island life operated in earlier times. This living collection of everyday objects gives visitors a direct sense of the island's rural past.
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