Koufonisia island | Koufonisia is a small paradisical cluster of two islands, consisted of Pano Koufonisi, population 300, and Kato Koufonisi where there are only two houses for their hosts in the summer only. People are involved in fishing. Excavations in both islands releaved remains of the early stages of the Cycladic civilazation as well as the Hellinistic and Roman years. A path can lead you to the most beautiful beaches such as Harokopou (Phoinikas), Platia Pounta, which is the most popular, Phanos and Pori, both less crowded but equally beautiful. There are fishing boats as well as hotels, taverns with traditional music, mini market, bars, e.t.c. The Koufonisia isles are considered the up and coming vacation destinations in the Cyclades Islands, as many have discovered that although they offer a reasonable amount of isolation, they also provide all the comforts of the most frequented islands. |
Koufonisia Feasts and Fairs | On 23rd of April it is the nameday of Saint George who is the patron saint of the island. During the feast there is a procession of the icon of the saint while the fishing boats sail by, and there is free food paid by the one among the Saint's faithfuls who has been chosen by lot. On the 15th of August the celebration of Panagia (Virgin Mary) takes place at the little church of Kato Koufonisi.After the service the people offer free food and then they are carried back to Pano Koufonisi by the fishing boats. They compete who will get there first and afterwards there is a feast.A new funfair is the one of the fishermen on the 24th of June when the skippers cook fishsoup and serve it to the people who are gathered at the peer. Afterwards there is a fiesta with traditional music and dancing. |
Koufonisia History | The island shares the same background as the surrounding islands.We don't know when it was first inhabited, and what happened on the island in antiquity. It was conquered like the rest of the islands by the Romans in the 2nd century BC, and fell into Venetian hands in the 13th century. The Turks invaded in the 16th century, and the island was liberated in 1821. |
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