Explore Anafi
Golden Beach Resort Anafi
Gastronomy: Anafi’s dishes reflect the philosophy of the Cycladic cuisine, where most recipes are inspired by simple local ingredients. The produce may not always be rich, but the ingredients are delicious thanks to the unique climate and the volcanic soil of the island. Some of the famous local products are the thyme honey with its characteristic color and aroma, the tasty goat cheese, the petrombarmbouna (red mullets) and the exquisite strofyliatiko wine. The traditional specialties that you will taste in Anafi include goat meat cooked in the oven, handmade pasta with lobster, paragemista (pies with honey and sesame), xerotigana (dough strips fried in oil and topped with honey sesame ) and koufeto, a traditional sweet made with honey and almond.
History: The small island of Anafi has a rich history that dates back to the ancient era. According to mythology, Anafi emerged from the Aegean Sea when Jason prayed to Apollo to save Argonauts from the storm, during their return to Iolkos after having obtained the Golden Fleece. In honor of Apollo, the Argonauts built a temple dedicated to the god of music and light and named the island “Anafi”, that means that it suddenly appeared (“anefani”=appeared, in ancient Greek). Remains of the Apollo temple are found near the Monastery of Panagia Kalamiotissa. Around the 8th century BC Anafi was colonized by the Dorians and later on was conquered by Athens. During the Middle Ages, the island was under the rule of Venetian royal families and on 1207 AD it came under the Frankish empire. A characteristic monument of that era is the Castle of Krispi, on the hill of the island’s Chora. In the 14th century Anafi was conquered by the Ottomans who established a severe regime for almost 4 centuries. Anafi was finally liberated by the Turkish occupation in 1830. At the time the economy of the island was really weak and that is why the inhabitants had to migrate to Greece’s capital, Athens. Most of them were settled in a neighborhood in Plaka that was named Anafiotika and built a cycladic settlement with the characteristic white-washed houses. Today, Anafiotika is the most charming and picturesque area in the center of Athens.