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Donoussa village is the capital and the main port of the island.
Greece » Cyclades

Why Visit
A few other settlements are scattered around the island but they are sparsely populated. Most tourism amenities are found in the capital village.

The only organized beach of Donoussa is close to the port, where most tourism facilities are found. The other beaches of the island are spread around its coasts and remain pretty remote, even in high season. The most famous of these remote beaches is Kendros, which gets particularly popular among free campers. The beaches can be reached mostly on foot or by rental bike but attention is needed as roads are usually track roads.

History
Donoussa is the easternmost island of the Cyclades group in the southern Aegean Sea. The small Cyclades islands were once the center of the Cycladic civilization. The history of Donoussa starts from the prehistoric times. According to Greek mythology it was to Donoussa that Dionysus, the god of wine, took Ariadne from Naxos in order to hide her from Theseus.

The remnants of two ancient settlements on Donousa have provided evidence that show traces of inhabitation on the island during the Early Cycladic period (around 3,000 BC). The Cycladic civilization on the island reaches its pinnacle during the Geometric era (1,000-700 BC), according to the ruins of a fortified settlement and cemetery that were discovered at Vathi Limenari, in the southeast area of Donoussa.

When we come to the Roman period, there are more factual records about Donoussa, which is mentioned as a place where the exiled were sent. Later, the island was a favorite haunt of Mediterranean pirates. Donoussa then came under Venetian and Turkish rule at various times. Local oral tradition tells us that the islanders had to pay the poll-tax during the Turkish occupation of the Cyclades, which was collected by a Turkish ship that used to anchor off the bay of Kalotaritisa.

Around 1830, the shepherds of Aegiali, on the island of Amorgos, settled permanently on Donoussa (which used to be their summer residence since the beginning of the 18th century) in order to rent the land and cultivate it. Donoussa was home to around 3,000 people at the beginning of the 20th century, many of whom worked in the iron, aluminum and copper mines of Kedros until they were shut down in 1938.

Donoussa became world famous by playing a prominent role at the beginning of the First World War (1914-1918) during the Battle of Gallipoli, in what came to be known as the Dardanelles Affair. The German cruiser Goeben escaped pursuit of the British Royal Naval Fleet by taking refuge in the harbor of Donoussa and, after replenishing its fuel, Goeben later managed to enter Turkey into the war on the side of Germany. Donoussa came under Italian occupation during the Second World War, after having been a self-ruling community since 1929.

The 1960s saw Donoussa struggling with poverty and with its agriculture (onions and tobacco) in ruins caused by large-scale emigration and consequent depopulation. With the arrival of tourists in the 1980s, even before electricity and the building of a port, life began to change for the better for the residents.

Museums - Archeological
The island of Donoussa is a small island of the Cyclades complex, between Amorgos and Naxos. Although its history is long and important, it does not host any museum. However, there are a few archaeological sites to visit on the island.

The history of Donoussa started in the prehistoric times, as shown by some signs of prehistoric settlement that have been found there. In a close distance from Donoussa village, on a hill above the gulf of Vathi Limenari, you can see some ruins of a geometric town and a cemetery.

However, as remains from following periods haven't been found, archaeologists believe that the island was abandoned. In the Roman times, Donoussa was used as an exile land and in the Medieval times, as a shelter for pirates.

Donoussa was again inhabited in the early 19th century, when piracy in the Mediterranean was abolished, by residents of close by Amorgos. Those are the reasons why not many archaeological sites have been found on Donoussa, as the island was not inhabited for many centuries.

Beaches
Kendros, Fikio, Port beach, Kalotaritissa, Livadi

Religious Monasteries and Churches
Donoussa is a peaceful paradise with beautiful churches spreading throughout the capital and the smaller settlements. Close to the port stands the Church of the Holy Cross, the protector of the island. It is the largest church of Donoussa and on the name day, on September 14th, you will see many faithful gathering at its beautiful courtyard for the most important religious feast of the year.

On the hill east of Stavros lie the twin 19th century churches dedicated to Agios Ioannis and Panagia (Virgin). Their location offers the best sunset views of the island. Due to the small size of Donoussa, the villages reveal many chapels including Agios Georgios and Agia Sofia.