Church

In the Kastro, which is the original nucleus of the present-day town of Mykonos (on its northwestern edge), stands the Paraportiani, a group of building impressive for its shapes' plasticity.

 Historic religious sites on Mykonos can also be found along the coastline, and Panagia Paraportiani is one of them. Located at the entrance to the Kastro neighborhood of Chora, the whitewashed walls of this seaside church form a unique shape due to the building’s unusual construction. Five small churches that were built on top of each other beginning in the 14th Century became the Panagia Paraportiani that can be seen today. The asymmetrical shape and rare combination of architectural styles combined with the ocean view have helped to make Panagia Paraportiani one of the most photographed sites in the world.

 In this location, during the Middle Ages, there was a tall, fortified tower, side by side and above one of the entrances to the Kastro. Now there is a complex made up of five churches altogether, four on the ground level and on the floor above, the church of the Virgin, which is the oldest of all. The Paraportiani, and the windmills are the island’s trademark.

The characteristic "Mili" (Windmills) are found south of Chora, in between the picturesque Alefkandra and Neochori. They impress visitors with their all-white overwhelming massive shapes, in a row facing the sea.

 The presence of windmills in insular Greece is documented in the beginning of 15th century. Later, during the late 18th century to the mid 19th century it is established that 28 windmills were functioning in Mykonos. Apart from the town, windmills functioned also in Ano Mera. Generally, high winds frequency in Mykonos favored this milling operation and marketing of cereals.

The ownership of the mills was generally cooperative. Their owners were wealthy landowners, merchants, sailors, etc., which means they were people who held power and authority in each local community. Mills also belonged to monasteries, such as the Virgin Tourliani , mainly as occasional effect of religious donations. During the 20th century, the final phase of the windmill history, several mill owners were millers themselves.

There are many reasons why windmills are popular in Cyclades, because Cyclades are the most windy areas of the Mediterranean. Mykonos is especially windy, as there are no more than ten windless days per year, on average. By having a windmill, the residents were able to take advantage of an abundant source of energy,wind, and as a result they were able to improve the conditions of their lives in their small and remote island communities.Additionally, during times when wheat and barley were the basic ingredients of the local diet, the windmill served as a time and labour-saving machine.

Today, seven, out of the ten mills which until beginning of the 20th century, would process the local wheat, using the unfailing power of the wind, have been preserved. The windmills of Mykonos, contributed to the economic growth of the island, as it became a necessary stop, for the purchase of paximadi (ship’s biscuit), for ships playing the Aegean. The “Bakery of Yiora”, in Neochori, with its wood-burning over, is a working example of the bakeries of past time.

Among the attractions of Mykonos, Mills are the trademark of the island with the old Bonis Windmill being the most distinctive one. Bonis Windmill, one of the Upper Mills (Apano Myli), dates most likely from the 16th century.

This mill, originally belonged to the old Mykonian family of Bonis, the Mykonian windmill is a stone-built three-storey and cylindrical construction. The ground floor is used for the collection and weighing of the grain. The flour is collected on the middle floor, while there is an ancient milling machine on the second floor. The sail-wheel of Bonis Windmill has twelve wooden spokes with the same number of triangular sails.

Agriculture Museum
The Agricultural Museum of Mykonos was established subsequently to the 1st Symposium of the Folklore Museums of Greece, which was held in Mykonos in1984.  It serves the idea of an outdoor museum, which includes as its exhibits the Bonis Windmill and some other newer facilities, such as the threshing floor, the dovecote and the oven. The Windmill, the threshing floor and the oven are the tree rural installations that for centuries have provided the locals with bread, the most significant part of their everyday diet.

The intention of the Agricultural Museum is to preserve the autonomous rural farmhouse, typical of what once was such a vital aspect of rural life in Greek islands. Also, at the Agricultural Museum of Mykonos one can see tools and machines from the pre – industrial and early industrial eras, which were used in the past for the production and processing of agricultural products.

The museums centerpiece is the Boni Windmill, which is in full working order and may be visited from June to September daily, 4:00-8:00 p.m. (tel.: +30 22890 – 26 246).

Lena's house, near the Three Wells, is a charmingly preserved, authentic 19th century Mykonian middle-class dwelling, which is completely furnished and equipped with antique furniture and house utensils.

Open evenings, except Sundays, from April to October, 6:30p.m. to 9:30p.m.

Α.Τ. ΜΥΚΟΝΟΥ ΚΥΚΛΑΔΩΝ