One-day excursion outside Athens

Salamina Island is suitable for a one-day trip from Athens, because it is very close and small, which means that it can be seen fairly quickly. The most fun part of it is that there are no signs and you can get lost while walking on the small streets. But the good thing is that Salamina is a small island and sooner rather than later you will get on a street that is marked on the map. The bad news is that very often the locals will not allow you to take pictures because of the navy base that is there. If it is of any consolation to the fact that you cannot take pictures, in every village there many good taverns, ouzo places and coffee shops.

During summer, the citizens of the island triple, because people can get there very fast from Athens. To most people, Salamina is known for its navy base but its beautiful beaches, archeological sights and the many entertainment places make it perfect for all of you who want to run away from the city chaos.

The Salamina battle and the revenge of the 300

Salamina is a famous island ever since ancient times. It is the island where the mythical battle between Greeks and Persians took place and the Greek prevailed. This way, they save not only their Athens but also the whole Greece, so it wouldn’t be conquered by the army of Xerxes.

Salamina Island is separated from the continental part of Greece by narrow sea passages. 25 centuries ago, when the Greeks lost the Battle of the Thermopylae – remember the movie “300,” and Xerxes’ army was free to go to Athens, Themistocles advised all Athenians to leave the city and move to Salamina.

After long arguments between the Greek commanders, Themistocles’ plan for a sea battle was approved and the Greeks decided to attack the Persian ships, right at those small sea passages near to Salamina. Despite the fact that the Persians had numerical superiority, they were not good navigators and their ships were big and clumsy. In this battle, they lost 200 ships and a big part of their crew, who couldn’t swim. During the clash, only 40 Greek ships were destroyed. Easily with its fast maneuvering fleet, the Greeks got the upper hand over the Persians.

Xerxes got scared that he would be isolated in Europe if they conquered long narrow strait at Hellespont and this is why he withdrew his army back to Persia. Since then, the name of Salamina is wrapped with the glorious halo of the mythical victory. It is not by accident that today, the biggest naval base in Greece is in Salamina and many of its citizens work there.

It is worth to see it!

In the island’s capital, which is also called Salamina, live 23 000 people and it has transformed into a small modern city.

Around Salamina you can see the two windmills, which are on top of the Windmill Hill and were built during the 18^th century. They were two out of ten windmills, which were working until the 19^th century – then the mayor of the city built the steam flour-mills on the Salamina shore and with time the traditional mills were destroyed.