Introduction
A
tiny island, a perfect getaway for people who just want peace and quiet, Donoussa
is a genuine island without any major tourism. It get a little busier during
high season, but most holidaymakers are Greeks from the mainland.
Donoussa has quite a harsh nature, but if you decide to go for a walk you'll
meet cattle, goats and sheep here and there. Since the islanders can not survive
on just tourism, most of them are involved with agriculture and fishing. The
locals are friendly, but it is sometimes hard to communicate with them since
they don't have much experience in speaking English.
History
According to
some versions, Ariadne
fled to this island after Theseus
had left her sleeping on Naxos. This is just about the only mythology connected
with Donoussa.
We do not know much about the ancient history of this island, except that
it was probably inhabited as early as in the 10century BC, and that it was
a place where the Romans sent their exiles after they conquered the Cyclades
in the 2nd century BC.
Just like the other islands, it belonged to Venetian rulers from the 13th
to the 16th century, when the Turks took over. Being such a tiny island, it
was not very interesting for the invaders, so pirates took the opportunity
and established a foothold here.
During World War II, a British warship was sunk here, and you can still discern
it from the beach Kedros.
What
to See
This is an
island where you just relax, or perhaps take a walk through the nature. The
steep coastline, the hills and the blue water are sights enough. The shipwreck
at Kedros is not exactly a sight, but it is the closest thing to one on this
calm little island.
What
to Do
Donoussa is
a place for sunbathing, perhaps snorkeling a little and taking walks. That's
about it! Bring something to read or why not paint!
Beaches
Find your own
little beach and enjoy. There are many nice beaches for such a small island,
and even the harbour, Stavros, has a good enough beach.
Nightlife
The only entertainment
resembling nightlife is sitting in one of the little taverns in Stavros until
late at night. This is the exception that confirms the rule: whereas most
Greek islands have some kind of bars, on Donoussa there is nothing.
Food
Here you get
Greek traditional food. The taverns are very few and almost all situated in
Stavros.
Shopping
At the most
some postcards!
Getting
Around
There is no
traffic on the island, so you'll have to settle with walking. You might be
able to get a boat owner to take you and pick you up at one of the little
bays and beaches.
Getting
There
The closest
islands with airports are Naxos and Paros. It is also connected to the mainland
(Pireus Athens) through a boat line.
