![]() Landmarks and secular buildings in town are Government House (next to the cathedral, a modest 2-story building that in 1828/29 housed the newly independent Greek government until they could get set up in Athens), Eynardio (1830 building next to the cathedral), Tower of Markellos (a pink watchtower on Thomaidou) and the Kapodistrian Orphanage southside (looking uncannily like a prison, which it was).Churches worth a look in town are St Nicholas Chapel (on west pier, the whitewashed building just as you step off the ferry), Isodia Theotokou (which you'll see even earlier from the boat, as it looms over the harbour), the Cathedral (on Mitropoleos) and Fanomeri (1 km inland and underground it's often closed)."Kolona" refers to the column, still standing, which was a daymark for approaching ships. Small museum and remains of a citadel on Kolona headland, you mostly come for the view. ![]() 37.75 23.424 1 Temple of Apollo ( Archaeology Museum) ( 500 m north of harbour).Route 3 (orange) follows the coast southwards, Aegina town - Faros - Marathonas - Aeginitissa - Perdika, with three M-F and two Sa Su. Two others turn off after Agios Nektarios along the lane via Alones to Agia Marina and don't pass near the temple, but they return that way, so there are five return services. These run M-F with three outbound buses passing the temple. Route 2 (blue) runs east across the island, Aegina town - Agios Nektarios - Aphaia Temple - Agia Marina. Route 1 (yellow) follows the north coast, Aegina town - Kipseli - Vathi - Souvala - Agii - Vagia, with three M-F and two Sa Su. Destinations are only shown in Greek but if in doubt, get on and ask the driver. A single ticket is €2, pay cash as you board. The three routes all start from the bus stand by the harbour, and take at most 30 min to the end of the line. ![]() They are not well-designed for sightseeing outings, but it's possible given boundless patience. The driver knows the roads, where to park and how much time to allow to return you to the ferry pier, and will regale you with what his great-grandmother got up to during the war.īuses on the island are a limited service to enable villagers to get into town for essentials then get home. Some of their offerings are dilapidated.įor a day trip, you might do better to hire a taxi. There are five car rental agencies near the harbour, which also have motorbikes and scooters - book ahead to ensure availability. There's lots of nearby cafes.ĭirect ferries from Athens (Piraeus port) to Souvala and Agia Marina were axed in 2019. Ferries dock on the west pier, cruise ships on the east pier, and small craft use the inner harbour. The ferry operators are Hellenic Seaways, Alpha Lines, ANES Ferries and Saronic Ferries.ģ7.745 23.426 1 Aegina port is at the heart of the town. In April 2020 only conventional vessels are sailing once or twice a day, reserved for residents and essential visitors and not available to tourists. In normal times hydrofoils sail hourly 07:00-17:00, some continuing from Aegina to Agistri, Poros or Methana. Hydrofoils for foot passengers take 40 min, single fare €14, conventional vessels for cars and motorbikes take 70 min, single fare €10. It has some agriculture but little industry, and has long been a holiday retreat for Athenians.įrequent ferries ply from Piraeus port in Athens to Aegina town. Aegina lost its importance and fell under the sway of other city-states, passing (as did Athens) into Roman, Byzantine, Venetian and Ottoman control. Trade rivalry with Athens escalated into war, the island suffered a massacre in 424 BC, and this time the trick with the ants somehow couldn't be repeated. In the 7th to 5th centuries BC Aegina was a maritime trading state and its currency, embossed with a sea turtle and later a land tortoise, circulated widely in the Hellenistic world. However Aeacus prayed to Zeus to convert the teeming ants into humans, the myrmidons, a sort-of warrior caste - honestly, how many of us would have thought of doing that? Hera the wife of Zeus tended to blame the other women rather than her hubby, and wiped out the island population by plague. Aegina was carried off to the island that now bears her name (maybe not unwillingly) and bore Zeus a son Aeacus, who became king. ![]() In legend Aegina was a goat-nymph, though it was almighty Zeus who acted the prize goat with his predatory sex adventures. 37.6925 23.455 3 Perdika (Πέρδικα) is a resort village near the south tip of the island.37.7451 23.5367 2 Agia Marina (Αγία Μαρίνα) is a small harbour on the east coast near the Temple of Aphaea.37.7722 23.4873 1 Souvala (Σουβάλα) is the main village of the beach and resort strip along the north coast.It's mainly geared for day-trippers, with some accommodation but lots of restaurants, and the Temple of Apollo is 500 m north. Aegina is also the name of the main town and ferry port - and to avoid confusion it's referred to as "Aegina town" on this page. ![]()
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