Looking for the thrill of discovery without the inconvenience of the middle of nowhere? Tzia, also called Kea, is one of the few Greek islands that can deliver. Located just a breath away from the region of Attica, north of Kythnos, it is the island of the Cyclades closest to the city of Athens. Albeit popular with vacationing well-heeled Athenians, many of which have summer residences on the island or just yachts, Tzia remains an uncrowded and unspoilt paradise, largely undiscovered by foreign visitors. The island has somehow managed to pass under the radar of mass tourism, but why this has happened is a true mystery - although, the limited ferry connections both to the mainland and to the other islands and the shyness of the locals might have accounted for something. The good news is that Tzia has retained its old-school charm and authentic character and has everything to seduce even the most demanding of travellers. Virgin beaches, plethoric natural beauty, hiking pathways shaded by century-old oaks, a handful of magnificent traditional villages where ancestral customs still survive, plentiful but not overwhelming nightlife options and just the right amount of archaeological and historical sights for those who want to be touristically correct. Sounds just about right for you? We thought so! Read on to find out more.
Tzia stands out of the crowd because of its particularly lush vegetation and rich flora and fauna, fueled by the abundance of fresh-water springs. Amongst the barren hills so typical of the landscape of the Cyclades are hidden green valleys filled with fragrant blossoming wildflowers, oak and almond trees, olive groves and orchards. Because many rare varieties of plants grow on the island, a large chunk of Tzia’s northeastern part has been included in the ecological protection network Natura 2000. You should spend some time here and immerse yourself in all this beauty, a child’s play thanks to the existence of an elaborate network of walking trails, many of them slab-paved and excellently signposted. Most of the paths are thousand years old and were constructed in Antiquity to connect the ancient cities that existed on the island between them. Packing tip? Walking shoes!
Tzia also boasts one of the most picturesque capitals in the Cyclades group. Called Hora or Ioulis (sometimes Ioulida), it is an immensely picturesque and dense cluster of houses spreading amphitheatrically over several hills. It features a unique mix of architecture, seamlessly combining handsome neoclassical edifices with their characteristic red-tiled roofs and small, typically Cycladic whitewashed houses. A true two-speed city, Ioulida is serene and laidback during weekdays and becomes vibrant and cosmopolitan every weekend, when the number of visitors from Athens peaks. Steep narrow alleyways, arches, fountains, one of biggest windmill clusters in Greece, wall paintings from the famous modern Greek painter Fassianos and just the right number of trendy bars and traditional restaurants, all add to making Tzia’s capital a true delight. It is also an ideal base to explore the island as the starting point of many walking paths.
There is also enough sightseeing to keep you busy over several days: the prehistoric settlement of Agia Irini, the giant stone Lion of Kea, the spectacular Monastery of Kastriani, the ruins of ancient city Karthea…the list is long enough and most of the times there is a closeby beach, unspoilt and uncrowded where you can cool down and enjoy a glass of ouzo, just to make life a bit better.
The bottom line: Tzia is the ideal holiday break for those who want to take in typical Cycladic beauty without extensive travel or on a tight budget. It is one of the very few remaining islands that will allow you to experience an authentic atmosphere and vacation like Greeks do: a quiet beach with a couple of small tavernas, a few traditional villages in the mountains and ancient paths over hills through fields of wildflowers and terraced gardens.
