Information about the island of Aegina from an eco aspect. Visit www.ecoathens.gr for more islands and beautiful regions in Greece

1. Island of Pistachios

2. Athens to Aegina:
40 minutes by high speed boat
65 minutes by ferry

3. Aegina Facts

4. A LITTLE BIT OF HISTORY…
Aegina’s strategic location
between Attica and the
Peloponnese made the island a
key player in the trade routes of
the Greek seas. Minoan ceramics
from Crete have been found here
dating back to 2000 BC.
Aegina’s greatest prosperity was
from 657-459 BC. In this period
The Temple of Aphaia was built
and remains in remarkably good
condition.

5. AND A LITTLE MORE HISTORY…
Throughout the centuries, Aegina has been occupied by foreign invaders, such
as, the Roman Empire, the Crusaders, the Venetians, and the Ottoman Empire.
After the Greek Revolution against the Ottomans,
in 1830 Aegina became the first capital of free Greece.
The first modern drachma was also minted here.

6. Palaiochora dates from the Byzantine era.
In 1537, the pirate Barbarossa seized the town
and looted its many churches, causing the
inhabitants to flee. Today, Palaiochora is an
abandoned village that you can visit hiking on
one of the island’s numerous footpaths.
Ancient Sites to See in Aegina
Palaiochora
Temple of Aphaia
The Temple of Aphaia, built in 480 BC, lies
inland on a hill surrounded by pine trees
with terrific views of the sea. It is one of
the best preserved temples in Greece and
for this reason is included in any EcoAthens
tour to Aegina.

7. Explore Aegina’s Pristine Nature
Eleonas Valley, a sacred place
Eleonas means olive grove and in this
mountain valley are an abundance of old
gnarly olive trees so distinctive you feel like
baptizing each one with its own name.
Scientists have carbon dated the bark of
some Eleonas trees to be over 400 years old.

8. Nature in Aegina -- Moni Island
Moni is just ten minutes by boat from Aegina, but feels worlds away.
It is uninhabited by man but its forested terrain is populated with deer so tame they eat
from your hand. The island also has wild peacocks, goats and rabbits.
The crystal clear turquoise sea makes Moni a popular destination for divers.
For hikers, there is a path to the highest point on the island. During World War II,
the Germans occupied Moni and built a bunker atop the mountain, and it is still there.

9. Aegina is famous for its pistachios even though
cultivation likely did not begin on a mass scale until
after World War II. In 1996, the name “pistachio of
Aegina” was registered with the European Union as a
Protected Designation of Origin (PDO). The Greek
word for pistachios is “fistikia.”
Every September during harvest islanders
celebrate the Aegina Fistiki Festival - four days
of food, drink, music, dance, theatre and art.
More than 20,000 visitors descend on Aegina
and patronize booths featuring pistachio
liqueurs, pistachio cookies, pistachio ice cream,
and bags and bags of green and red pistachios.

10. Horseback riding for experienced riders
on the mountain paths, or lessons for beginners
Bike along coastal roads
or off road in the hills
Hike on paths to see the
islands old cisterns
Enjoy snorkeling, diving and sailing in
Aegina’s crystal clear waters

11. The Peliti Seed Bank
Hellenic Wildlife Hospital
The Hospital treats and rehabilitates up to
4,000 injured animals from all over Greece,
including endangered species like falcons,
eagles and vultures. Join us for a tour of the
hospital and you can even have a chance to
work directly with the wild animals.
After Spain, Greece has Europe’s richest
biodiversity and members of Peliti intend to keep it
that way. They reproduce and germinate original
seeds. Local seed swaps share heritage seeds with
rural and urban farmers. A branch of Peliti operates
in Aegina and you can visit the members
and learn how they save seeds from extinction or
genetic erosion.
Participate in Aegina’s
nature based organizations

12. Nektarios Gkaris is probably the last
traditional potter in Aegina. He uses the
ancient practice of producing his own clay for
pottery rather than ordering it from abroad.
He learned the craft from his father and is
willing to share some of these family secrets
with foreign guests in one of his pottery
workshops or a private lesson.
Discover how Marina Coroliano produces handmade
organic olive oil soap by visiting her Cool Soap
workshop. She began the business in 2012 and uses
all natural ingredients creatively combined to make
such aromatic soaps as jasmine & cedar, green clay &
lavender or charcoal & rosemary.

13. Celebrated on June 24, young girls fill a pitcher which never held
water before with “silent water.” They do not speak and are not
spoken to. Both sexes throw personal items like jewelry into the
water as a divination. Then they would light wreathes on fire and
jump over the flames. The purpose is to determine their loved one.
Another similar custom on June 24 has girls taking a mirror to a well,
holding it to reflect the sun’s rays in the water, and the face of the
man they will marry appears.
Aegina Customs
Leidonas
Klidonas
Celebrated on September 14, Leidonas is an agricultural feast with pagan roots
marking the end of summer farm work and summer habits, like the afternoon nap
and meal at dusk, or “Leidino,” as Aeginetans call it. Women prepare the “leidino,”
consisting of wheat, raisins, pomegranates, almonds, chick peas and parsley. Other
women make a straw-filled effigy who is buried at sunset and the grave opened
three days later. The custom represents the death of plants.

14. Christos Kapralos Museum
houses the works of a
modern Greek sculptor.
Aegina Archaeology Museum
founded 1828 by Ioannis
Kapodistrias, Greece’s first
administrator.
Markello’s Tower housed the
first Greek government
1816-1828
Hill of Kolona last remnant of
Temple of Apollo, built 520 BC.
Visible right on the sea.
St. Nektarios Monastery
St. Nektarios, a healer whose
holy day is November 9.
Nikos Kazantzakis house
one-time home of the
author of “Zorba the Greek”.

15. Only ten minutes by boat from Aegina is little
Agistri island, only 5 ½ kilometers long and 3 ½
kilometers wide. It is the smallest island in the
Argo Saronic. Agistri is blessed with hidden
coves, pine trees approaching the sea, many
hills and stunning blue waters. The population
has 1000 residents which swells to 5000 in the
summer. There are three villages on the island,
seven churches and ten beaches. Agistri is a
popular getaway destination for Athenians and
visitors to Athens who want a tranquil
weekend in nature.