The Island That Looks Like a Butterfly
Seen from above, Astypalaia has the shape of a butterfly — two wings of land connected by a narrow isthmus, surrounded by the deep blue of the Aegean. It's one of the most distinctive silhouettes in the Greek islands, and the island itself is just as extraordinary as its outline.
Astypalaia belongs administratively to the Dodecanese but feels closer in spirit to the Cyclades — whitewashed houses, blue-domed churches, and a hilltop kastro that watches over the sea. It's remote, unhurried, and quietly magnificent.
The Kastro: A Village Within a Fortress
At the top of the island's main hill stands one of the most impressive medieval fortresses in the Aegean — a Venetian kastro built in the 13th century, with a village of whitewashed houses built inside its walls. The view from the top is extraordinary: the two bays of the island spread out below, the Aegean stretches to the horizon, and the windmills on the ridge turn slowly in the breeze.
It's the kind of place that makes you feel like you've stepped out of time.
Two Bays, Two Worlds
The isthmus that connects Astypalaia's two wings is just a few hundred metres wide, with a bay on each side. On one side, the main town of Chora and its harbour. On the other, the quieter bay of Maltezana, with its Roman mosaics and shallow turquoise water. The contrast between the two sides — one lively, one serene — captures something essential about the island's character.
An Island for Those Who Seek
Astypalaia rewards the traveller who makes the effort to get there. The ferry journey is long, the island is small, and there are no shortcuts. But those who arrive find an island of rare beauty — crystal-clear water, deserted coves, fresh seafood, and a silence that feels like a gift.
It's the kind of place you tell very few people about.
Bring Astypalaia Home
Our Astypalaia Cinematic Poster captures the island's unique beauty — the hilltop kastro, the whitewashed village, the deep Aegean blue. A piece of wall art that carries the spirit of one of Greece's most extraordinary hidden islands.