Little Venice, Mykonos island. Photo Source: Bloomberg/Lizy Manola
The beauties and hidden treasures of the island of Mykonos were featured in a recent photo report published in the online edition of American news agency Bloomberg.
Mykonos Island © Maria Theofanopoulou
Titled, “A Local’s Guide to the Best of Mykonos, in 12 Photos – Rethink the Greek party capital this summer”, the article hosts an interview with Greek-born photographer Lizy Manola, who has been visiting Mykonos every summer during the last 40 years.
Manola also spent the past year chronicling the island for her new travel tome, Mykonos Muse. “Mykonos is a magnet for celebrities and artists, models and designers,” she told Bloomberg reporter Nikki Ekstein. “Yet, behind the throngs of partygoers and post-midnight revelry, there’s still a quieter, more intimate side to the island.”
Manola reveals some of Mykonos’ most stunning and isolated beaches including Kapari, which has sunset views over Delos; the secluded Mersini; Agios Sostis and Kalo Livadi. “There is a big caveat with these beaches, though,” she warned. “They don’t have umbrellas or sunbeds or music. But this is my Greek vacation.”
Agios Sostis beach, Mykonos © Maria Theofanopoulou
The photographer also spoke of the island’s gastronomy and the locals’ warm hospitality. “The Mykonians make Mykonos what it is today—they know how to give visitors what they want.”. But the most important quality they share, she said, is that Mykonians are generally open-minded.
Armenistis Lighthouse, Mykonos. © Maria Theofanopoulou
According to Manola some of the sites worth visiting are the 127-year-old Armenistis Lighthouse located north of Chora; the intimate Panagia Tourliani monastery which dates back to the 16th century; the Little Venice during sunset; and the nearby protected archeological site of Delos.
Manola’s favorite place on the island, though, is a surprise. “If you ask me, it’s the old port,” she said, referring to the area tourists visit when taking a ferry over to historic Delos. “I get up early in the morning and take my first coffee there… Around 8 am is best—by 10 or 11, the cruise boats come and we [the locals] disappear,” she said.
