DESTINATIONMYKONOS
The Cosmopolitan Destination: Mykonos
From backpackers to the superrich, from day-trippers to yachties, from regular people to celebrities (who head here by helicopter), Mykonos has become one of the most popular of the Aegean islands. Today's scene is a weird but attractive cocktail of tradition, beauty, and glitz, but travelers from all over the world have long been drawn to this dry, rugged island. One of the smaller Cyclades, thanks to its many stretches of sandy beach, its thatched windmills, and its picturesque port town. One thing is certain: Mykonos knows how to maintain its attractiveness, how to develop it, and how to sell it. Complain as you will that it is touristy, noisy, and overdeveloped; you'll be back.
In the 1950s a few tourists began trickling into Mykonos on their way to see the ancient marvels on the nearby islet of Delos, the sacred isle. For almost 1,000 years Delos was the religious and political center of the Aegean and host every four years to the Delian games, the region's greatest festival. The population of Delos actually reached 20,000 at the peak of its commercial period, and throughout antiquity Mykonos, eclipsed by its holy neighbor, depended on this proximity for income. Anyone interested in antiquity should plan to spend at least one morning on Delos, which has some of the most striking sights preserved from antiquity, including the beautiful Avenue of the Lions or the startling, enormous stone phalli in the Sanctuary of Dionysus.
Today, the natives of Mykonos have happily fit cosmopolitan New Yorkers, Londoners, and Athenians gracefully into their way of life. You may see, for example, an old island woman leading a donkey laden with vegetables through the town's narrow streets, greeting the suntanned vacationers walking by. The truth is, Mykonians regard a good tourist season the way a fisherman inspects a calm morning's catch; for many, the money earned in July and August will support them for the rest of the year. Not long ago Mykonians had to rely on what they could scratch out of the island's arid land for sustenance, and some remember suffering from starvation under Axis occupation during World War II. How things have changed.
Source: Fodor's Travel
Lovers of the Greek history and mythology were drawn to the region and started discovering along with the ancient ruins, also the virgin island of Mykonos and the famous Greek hospitality. It was so that in the early 30’s, many famous artists, politicians and wealthy Europeans were spending their vacation in Mykonos, attracting attention and putting the island on the map, so to speak.
Resurrecting after the catastrophic aftermath of World War II, Mykonos found its path back to growth and flourished as a very popular destination for the rich and famous during the 50’s. From then on, Mykonos has become the cosmopolitan island and famous tourist destination that we know it to be today. With its traditional architecture, the white-washed houses, the narrow streets “kalderimia” and the exuberant natural beauty that surrounds it, Mykonos remains a favourite amongst the most discerning travellers.
Source: Cycladia