There is history and mythology abounding throughout Greece, and the exotic Greek islands of Lichadonisia are no exception.
The enticing, magical tales of the creation of this island complex located northeast of Evia, in the North Evia Gulf, only adds to the allure of the seven islands and islets.
The island chain has an intriguing origin in Greek mythology.
Evia, or Euboea, is the second largest island in Greece right after Crete. Along with Lefkada in the Ionian Sea, it is one of the two islands connected to the mainland by a bridge.
Evia is known for its tall mountains, lush nature, traditional villages, sandy beaches, and a vibrant nightlife in its bars all along the seashore.
There, the exotic islands of Lichadonisia remain a little-known slice of Greek paradise.
The origin of the Lichadonisia islands in Greece
According to legend, the hero Herakles won his bride, Deianira, as a battle prize. As Deianira was on her way to her new husband by boat, the ferryman, a centaur named Nessus, tried to rape her.
Herakles saw the attack from the shorelines and shot a poisoned arrow at the centaur, and as Nessus was dying, he told Deianira to take some blood from his tail to ensure her husband would remain faithful to her.
Over time, Deianira believed that her husband was cheating on her, so she sent him a poisoned cloak as a gift with his servant Lichas.
Herakles realized that the cloak was poisoned, so he threw the servant, Lichas, into the sea where he broke into pieces. It was then that the god Poseidon turned him into stones creating the Lichadonisia Islands.
Of course, there is another, much more prosaic explanation for the formation of the islands. The natural phenomenon of a massive earthquake in 426 BC caused pieces of land to sink into the sea, creating the small island chain.
Deserted islands offer pristine beaches, crystal-clear waters
The mythical isles are often compared to the Maldives and Seychelles, as they have stunning beaches with golden sand and turquoise waters.
The seven islands that make up the Lichadonisia chain—Manolia, Strongyli, Mikri, Steno, Vagia, Vorias, and Limani—are currently uninhabited and protected natural habitats.
The largest isle, Manolia, is the only island that was home to residents in the past and has a stunning beach that tourists flock to each summer. The island has abandoned homes scattered about, creating an eerie feeling as you explore the terrain; however, the island attracts many tourists.
Strongyli, which is the second largest of the group, is famous for its beautiful and mysterious lighthouse.
The other isles are just as enchanting and are travel destinations for divers to explore nearby shipwrecks as well as all other vacationers.
All seven isles make for ideal day-trips with private boat services regularly traveling from the mainland.
Any travelers looking for unspoiled, natural beauty—and the incomparable serenity a deserted island provides—should take a trip to this archipelago of seven stunning islands.