Donoussa island is a small island between Naxos and Amorgos. It is a tiny island with only 130 inhabitants and three villages, Stavros or Donousa, Kalotaritissa, and Mersini. This island is the ideal destination for those who love nature and relaxing beaches. Indeed, the long, sandy and quiet beaches are the characteristics of Donoussa. The most famous beaches include Livadi, Vathi Limenari, Stavros and Kendros.
According to the myth, it was on Donousa that god Dionysus took Ariadne when Theseus abandoned her on Naxos. In ancient times, Donousa was a place of exile for the Romans. In the Medieval times, its remote caves constituted a safe haven for the pirates. Then, the island was inhabited by people of Amorgos, who occupied with agriculture and fishing.
At the beginning of the 20th century, the island had about 3000 inhabitants, most of whom worked in the marble mines. Donousa experienced a shortage of farm workers in the 1960s due to extreme poverty and emigration. As a result, the land was abandoned.
The first tourists arrived in the island in the 1980s and since then the island flourished. A port was built for the convenience of the people and life started moving again on the island. Currently, Donousa possesses a number of tourist facilities, including coffee shops, taverns, hotels, and rooms to rent. There are also a few sights to see, such as Christian churches, archaeological sites, and two caves.
Stavros, the port of Donoussa, is the most crowded place to visit. You can capture the best sunset on the island there. Donousa has also got extraordinary geographical features. It is mainly a mountainous island but some verdant parts are also found. In general, you should not expect extreme nightlife or popular location there, just calm and relaxing holidays with the beauty of nature around you and gorgeous beaches to swim.
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