About Kea
 Less than two hours away from the Athens
airport, Kea is an unspoiled Cycladic island that managed to resist
the pressures of time and has maintained the traditional Aegean
rhythms, authentically simple life, and ways of the
past.
Kea is the northern-most island of the
Cyclades, thirteen miles southeast off the tip of Attica, the region
around Athens. Approximately fifty square miles in area, the island
is characterized by a mountainous terrain outlined by pristine
beaches.
Kea boasts a long history and despite its proximity
to Greece's capital, the island has remained quite unchanged. It has
great alcoves with blue-green waters, a rare ancient oak forest
nested in the slopes of the tall central mountain ridge, and a
mysterious smiling lion carved around 600 BC onto a gray rock the
size of a small whale. A rich archaeological past is manifested by
the remains of ancient classical cities as well as earlier neolithic
settlements. An extensive and well-kept network of trails and old
stone-paved paths, the old mule roads, is now being shared by people
who love nature and enjoy exploring the island on foot. The island's
proximity to Athens and surrounding islands, as well as its
naturally sheltered bay, make Kea an ideal sailing port for those
keen on sea explorations.
Recent years have witnessed Kea
becoming a favorite weekend destination for many Athenian residents
who respect its resistance to the pressures of tourism and who
treasure the island's commitment to preserving local agriculture and
the authentic Mediterranean landscape and way of life.
An extensive and well-kept network of
trails and old stone-paved paths, the old mule roads, is now
being shared by people who love nature and enjoy exploring the
island on foot. Kea is an ideal sailing
port for those keen on sea
explorations.
For
more on Kea see Matt
Barrett's Guide to Kea
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