![]() |
The city of Aegina is the capital
city of the island and
it's located on the west
side. It's built amphitheatrical
towards the sea.
When you enter the harbor, the
small, white church of Saint Nikolas welcomes you.
Your
first impession is the
modern type classical
buildings, which are located along the sea front
of the island and have terristrial shade colors
which make them look even more beautiful at sunset.
The
economic and social life
of Aegina is centralized on the coastal road and
the parallel roads. Take a ride on the horses and
the carriages, walk in the narrow, paved streets
and see the traditional houses, the churches with
the blue domes and the shops with folk art.
Don't miss seeing the
fish-market, the traditional
restaurants that serve
snacks with ouzo (a greek
drink). Also the fishing
boats, that are not only
used for fishing but
for seiling groceries
as well. And finally
don't forget to buy the famous peanuts of Aegina.
Enjoy eating fresh fish and traditional food in
the fish restaurants in Aegina. Also, enjoy the
patisseries which are in front of the harbor and
in the beautiful alleys where you can have a cup
of coffee or a drink. In the enchanting atmosphere
of the night you can
have fun and dance at the clubs in town.
The buildings in Aegina have
a neoclassical architecture
with folk elements. They
were built during the
19th century and they
remind us that Aegina were once the capital city
of Greece for two years. Aegina is well-known for
its history and for its art and craft events that
take place there.
The beauty of the island is undisputable and for many decades, many greek and foreign artists and literary writers preffered to visit this island.
On the ground floor in many of these buildings, there are traditional coffee shops, patisseries, restaurants, shops and banks. In the narrow streets of the island there are colourful houses and beautiful flowers along with picturesque shops and taverns.
The town
of Aegina is beautiful,
picturesque and it curiously
evokes the visitor. In
the yard of Saint Dionisious
cathedral church in Aegina, there
is the Eunardio school
which was a teacher's
school the past century. It was there, where the
first greek goverment took place after the greek
revolution in 1821.
In the Metropolis street, we come across the library in Aegina and further down the street the Kapodistriako goverment House in which, on the groundfloor, was the first mint. In the same street we can see the houses of many famous artists and others like Zografou, Peppa, Liberopoulou and also Markello's tower. Northern is Logistatidi's mansion and the first cathedral in Aegina.
The cathedral was a christian basilica of the 5th-6th century with a mosaic floor in which the foundings and baptism areas were saved. In the out skirts of the town there are archaic tombs, tombs of the parchment era and the Byzantine church in the name of the Saints Theodoron, two kilometers west from the town. This church is a basilica of the 13th century. One of the sights that we see when we visit Aegina is the Ancient city that was built in the neolithic years (3000 b.c.).
And also the modern
monuments that were created
when the island was the
capital of Greece for a short
period of time. A typical
picture of the town of
Aegina, that every visitor
can enjoy, are the hackney
carriages which unceasingly
go up and down the coastal road of the island carrying
greek and foreign tourists.
Near the port, on the
left as we get off the
ship is an archaelogical
place called "Kolonas" known for its one
and only pillar (kolona
in greek), the only remaining
thing from the temple of Apollo Delfiniou, built
in a Doric order and it dominates on a hill.
The hill of Kolonas was
the Acropolis and the
religious center of the
ancient city.
Archaeological
research has diseclosed
the presence of more than ten settlements
starting from the early
copper era(3000 b.c.).
In the same area besides
the remains and the pillar
of the Apollon temple,
there are also quite
a few buildings and the
foundations of two smaller
temples, the temple of
Artemis and the temple
of Dionisos.If you continue
south you can see what is left from the memorial
which was dedicated to Aiako, along with a big part
of the roman wall.
Today
on the hill of Kolona,
there is the archeological
museum of Aegina, which many
findings from the excavations
are displayed there.
Under the hill of Kolonas
you can still distinquish
the remains of the piers
of the famous "kruptou Limena" that
was the warlike port
in ancient Aegina.
The entrance was fortified with turrets and closed with a strong chain. You can also find there the neosokous, which provided shelter to move than 400 triremes that ancient Aegina had during its heyday.
Outside the
port, there was a system
with artificial reefs(a kind of marine
minefield) which made
it difficult and dangerous
for the enemies to enter.
The excavations affirm
that there was a large
theater and a stadium
which were not preserved.




