Kleftiko of Greece: where the pirates set up their ambushes

The more we explore the islands of Greece, the more we discover enchanting landscapes that come with an interesting history.

Kleftiko_Milos_152805-1-1140x570.jpg

Such a history has Kleftiko, where its beauty is shocking and rare. The white, wild rocks combined with the turquoise water create a dreamlike scenery that is hard to capture even in the photos.

As soon as you arrive, you will see a large and imposing series of impressive volcanic gray-white rocks in strange and special formations. The power of the sea, the wind and the pass of centuries created this unique scene, consisting of pits and hidden caves.

But what does this place on Milos have to do with pirates and why was it named so? The name Kleftiko dates back to the activities of pirates who operated for centuries on Aegean Sea, terrorizing unsuspecting merchant ships. The pirates therefore had the cave-like coasts in the south of Milos as their base, as well as those in Kleftiko.

There they hid and when a ship appeared, they attacked and plundered it. Their actions ceased with the appearance of Admiral Kanaris after the revolution of 1821, who protected the Aegean islands from the scourge of pirates.

kleftiko.jpg

How do you go to Kleftiko?

It is accessible only from the sea. You can take a boat from Adamas of Milos and approach the point, which basically consists of many small rocky beaches from which you can take your dips. Of course, it is good to have water and a hat to not suffer and be disappointed by fatigue.

Alternatively, you can rent a sailboat to go to Kleftiko. This way, you will do as many dives as you want and for as long as you want. If you belong to the category of those who also like hiking on the islands, there is a difficult route that will take you there. However, you should keep in mind that you should be experienced. Also, you will definitely need a guide from Milos to guide you safely.