Situated at the edge of the Aegean Sea, on the island of Mykonos, is Little Venice. A hub for shops, restaurants, bars and clubs. This is a must-see place on the island when you’re in Greece.
The Mediterranean sunset casts it's glow onto the architecture typical of the island of Mykonos.
The town is almost unreal with its’ pristine stone paths and whitewashed buildings. While this makes for great Instagram photos, the cyclades houses were initially painted white to reflect the harsh sun and keep the homes cool during the summer time, and the style was the most affordable. Around the 60s, light, warm-toned buildings, that can still be seen in places like Santorini, were banned by a militaristic government. The blue and white buildings were seen a symbol of the Grecian flag and national unity.
Bougainvillea can be found encroaching on almost every corner in Little Venice. The bright pink shade of this plant's flowers is a stark contrast to the white of the buildings, making them even more eye-catching.
Though both tourists and natives can enjoy an evening milling about in the cool sea breeze, the town truly thrives on tourism. The season starts from the end of April and can run until into October. For example, we got to our hotel, the San Marco only a week after they had opened for the year. Tourism reaches its' peak by June for Mykonos, and Little Venice, as well as other destinations on the island, can be expected to have a lot more traffic. Shops cater to the out-of-towners with trinkets and souvenirs that speak to the island’s beauty and, in my own experience, friendly restaurant workers try to serve you dinner before you’ve gotten a chance to decide if the menu seems appealing.
A quiet corner of town is hard to come across as Mykonos is one of the most popular of the Grecian islands to visit.
The people of Little Venice are truly the most charming. I found that their vibrance and casual attitudes created an intentionally welcoming atmosphere that I couldn’t help but gravitate toward, even in a foreign country. Almost everyone on the island speaks English, but if you learn the phrase “Ευχαριστώ” or “efcharistó,” meaning "Thank You," you might find yourself with a dessert on the house at the end of dinner.
