Folegandros is a small island south of Cycades of 32 sq. km 106 nautical miles away from Piraeus. It is more a large dry rock in the middle of the sea rather than a proper island where potable water and land suitable for cultivation are rare. The people living there have as a major source of income the high income tourism as the island is a place of recolection and reflection for many famous people. The natural beauty of the island is based on its wild rocky character, its imposing vertical cliffs leading to the dark blue sea and the noumerous small secluded beaches with clear waters colored in all shades of blue and green. There is a helicopter port but potable water still arrives to the island with tankers whenever the weather permits it. Although Folegandros has little in the way of tourist amenities or roads, it attracts more and more visitors each year -chiefly those in search of solitude close to nature and away from the spirit of cosmopolitan islands such as Myconos or Santorini.

               The town of Folegandros is one of the most beautiful in the Cyclades. It is a romantic place with strong medieval character, with lots of churches and a castle, built in 1212 from Markos Sanoudos as aprotection against the pirates. Originally the town of Folegandros was confined inside the borders of the castle for protection but with the passage of time and the gradual dissapearance of the pirates the town "spilled" out of the walls and reached the sea shore.The castle itsel built on a rock 200 metres above the sea is more than a row of guard houses than a proper castle, a style very common in the cylades. Inside the castle there are all the old picturesque houses and lots of churches with the church of Pantanassa being the most visited since it has a breathtaking view to the sea.

               The town itself consists of small square white-washed houses built in a complex way communicating with a vast network of narrow white streets which create small yards, daidalous corridors between colorful flowers, jasmins, bougainvilleas and pots of basil. The new quarter is just as pretty, with narrow alleys, stepped walls, courtyards, wooden balconies and typically Aegean churches. The port of the island, Karavostasis, is small and it harbours mainly yachts and fishing boats.

               Close by is the Chrysospilia, the "Golden cave", a newly found cave not yet explored with golden coloured stalactites. Arcaelogists believe it must have been a worship place for God Apollo and Goddess Artemis due to the temple of Apollo built near by and due to the findings inside the cave including pot shurds and human bones and a list of ancient names inscribed on the walls. Unfortunately going there takes lots of climbing and the entrance is closed to the public for the time being.

               Above the town of Folegandros on top of a pointy rock is located the most characteristic structure of the island, the church of Panagia. It is built on top of an ancient temple and one can still see its architecture incorporated to the christian building. At its belltower there is half built inside the wall part of a roman statue. But probably the most important feature of the church is the view to the sea and the near by island of Sikiros.

               At the north side of the island there is the Ano Meria traditional settlement whith a folcklore museum that includes a whole "themonia", a complex of vine yards, press houses, store houses, the house of the owners and the houses of the workers with all their everyday objects inside.

               The rest of the island is more or less deserted but it has lots of beautiful beaches some of which can be reached only with a caique. Some of the most beautiful are Katergo, Agali, St Nicolas and Ampeli.