Astypalaia covers an area of 97 sq.km and has a coastline of 110km. Its land is
mountainous and barren and the characteristic of the island are the numerous gulfs
and bays of its coasts. The capital of the island, one of the most representative
settlements of the Aegean Sea, is the town of Astypalaia, built on the top of a hill,
around a Venetian castle. The place fascinates the visitor with its strong colors, the
bright white of its houses and the deep blue of its sky and its sea. Astypalaia is far
from the great current of tourism and modern life, is an ideal place for quiet and
pleasant vacations. In ancient times, the island was known as a place for abundant
fishing and still today the clean waters of its sea are rich in fish. The island was
inhabited from Prehistoric times. Archaeological finds show that the island was first
settled by Carians long before the age of written history and that it knew great prosperity
in antiquity.Otherwise, it seems to have shared the fate of the other Dodecanese,
experiencing both Roman and Byzantine rule. Claimed by Venice in 1207, it fell to the
Turks in 1540. It was occupied by the Italians from 1912 to 1945 and united with
Greece two years later. The fishing villages, with their characteristic architecture, offer a
sojourn in an intact beautiful natural environment. The architecture of the island is
the characteristic architecture of the Aegean Islands. Its villages have white cube-like
houses with white flat roofs. The imposing Venetian castle and the windmills of its
capital are characteristic architectural elements of the place. Some nice beaches
to swim are: Agios Konstantinos, Kaminakia, Vatses (near Livadia), Livadia, Marmari
(near the camping), Steno, Analipsi, Mple Paralia (Blue Beach) (near Maltezana).
Astypalaia is accessible by boat or airplane. There are at least 4 flights per week and
during high season there might be more. At least one boat stops every day but expect
4-6 hour delays as the boat makes many stops in popular islands. The trip varies
from 10-14 hours depending on the season and the in-between stops the boat
must make. Blue Star ferries and Dane Lines boats are to be preferred. Avoid any
Hellas Ferries boats (museum pieces). There is a camping site just outside Chora but
be aware that it's right next to the local electricity board plant and it can be noisy at
some nights (it's either the electricity plant or the camping restaurant music). However,
it has nice shades, is well organized and you can book before you get there. Rumour
has it that the coast guard makes a lot more patrols to stop people camping for
free on beaches since that camping started operating under local owners.