Cycladic architecture, named after the archipelago in the Aegean Sea, but covering a much larger territory, was formed under the influence of many factors. Among them are landscape, climate, environment and historical social development. Thanks to these factors, people have achieved a harmonious combination of white cubic houses, cobbled streets, fabulous windmills and cozy churches with blue domes.
Simple and conservative, with a minimum of detail, yet incredibly beautiful and unique, outstanding Cycladic architecture characterizes the islands that form the fabulous archipelago in the southern Aegean Sea. The location between Athens and Crete left a definite imprint on the Cycladic culture, in particular architecture, and the settlement of the Greeks throughout the Mediterranean made possible the widespread dissemination of Cycladic architecture.
Each island of the archipelago has its own charm and personality: the incredibly fashionable Mykonos and Thira attract thousands of young tourists every year, the largest island of Cyclades Naxos is fascinating with history, and the lesser-known Amorgos and Sifnos attract lovers of secluded relaxation.
The main features of Cycladic architecture are the cubic shape of buildings with flat roofs and dazzling white walls. Add here always clear Mediterranean weather and clear blue water, if this is not a paradise, then what? It is hard to believe, but most of the unique buildings were randomly designed using the simplest materials, and the reason for their construction was not aesthetic perfectionism, but a vital necessity.
The purpose of the first Cycladic builders was not to create masterpieces of architecture at all - the famous whitewash was used to reflect sunlight, as well as an antiseptic. The shape of the roofs also had a practical component. Nevertheless, today the original houses on the Cyclades islands serve as a source of inspiration for the best architects in the world developing multimillion-dollar projects based on ancient buildings.
Cycladic houses usually "look" to the southeast to receive all the benefits of natural light. As already mentioned, the white walls protected homes from extreme temperatures. Their thickness was about 60–80 cm, which was enough to counter sea winds. It is noteworthy that in Santorini (Thira) most of the houses have a ground floor underground or are built on the hills, which allows them to be protected from direct sunlight and maintain a constant temperature throughout the year.
Having examined many of the houses shown in the photo, you can not only see the architectural features of buildings on various islands, but also understand the problems and life needs of each community that lived here several centuries ago.
The fabulous villages of Thira, with their rocky houses resembling sugar cubes, are an indescribable sight. Especially picturesque houses look at sunset, when the sea, sky and the majestic caldera are illuminated with carefree golden hues. Mykonos attracts with magnificent windmills that have received cult status. The island also stands out as "little Venice", a coastal area with fishing houses that are decorated with colorful wooden balconies.
The islands of Naxos and Andros will delight not only with classical Cycladic architecture, but also with beautiful towers and castles in the Venetian style. Sifnos retains a medieval character, and Syros boasts more modern neoclassical buildings. The main feature of Tinos is the dovecote of complex design, on which thousands of birds are resting and eating. By the way, on most-beauty.ru you can get acquainted with all the most beautiful islands of Greece.
In order not to be unfounded, we offer a selection of photographs depicting various types of Cycladic architecture, including picturesque churches, breathtaking pools, cozy Greek cities, as well as modern villas and hotels that combine straight lines and gentle bends of local design with today's aesthetics.