Cyclades

The Cyclades are a group of Greek islands located in the central Aegean Sea. They form a regional unit within the South Aegean region and are renowned for their white-washed settlements, sea-blue domes, and scenic coastlines. The name Kykládēs, from Greek, refers to a circle and is traditionally associated with the islands’ position around the sacred site of Delos.

Geographically, the Cyclades lie southeast of the mainland and between Evia to the north and Crete to the south. The archipelago comprises roughly 220 islands and islets, with about 24 inhabited. Major inhabited islands include Naxos, Paros, Andros, Tinos, Syros, Mykonos, Santorini (Thera), Milos, and Ios. The landscape is typically arid, with limestone hills, coves, and wind-carved coastlines; the region is also marked by the volcanic origins of Milos and Santorini, and by strong meltemi trades in summer.

Historically, the Cyclades were inhabited since early Bronze Age by the Cycladic culture and played a role in ancient trade networks. They later came under Roman, Byzantine, Venetian, and Ottoman rule before joining the modern Greek state in the 19th century. Delos, a small island within the cluster, was a major religious sanctuary and commercial center; its archaeological remains are today a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Culturally, the Cyclades are noted for characteristic architecture—white cubic houses, narrow alleys, windmills, and blue-domed churches. The economy today is dominated by tourism, complemented by fishing and agriculture, including olives and grapes. Transport between islands is primarily by ferry and air links, with Syros serving as the regional capital and main administrative center within the Cyclades regional unit of the South Aegean.