A visit to the magnificent church of St. Nektarios and Monastery is one of the most spiritually rewarding experiences on Aegina. Located on a hillside among pistachio, fig and pine trees, the church was erected to honor the saint described as a man of deep prayer and a hard worker. His memory is celebrated on the nameday of Nektarios with a procession in Aegina town. On a steep hill next to the church, all that remains of Paleochora, the island’s old capital, are 33 churches linked by winding stone paths, which represent a fraction of the rumored 365, one for every day of the year. The castle at the top and town were well-camouflaged to blend with the landscape against pirate attacks. The island’s long tradition of fine ceramics also springs from the countryside. The art, passed down from generation to generation, utilizes the local clay called, argilomaza, and is found 3 to 10 meters below the surface.The beautiful pottery is made from the same clay which has existed on the island since antiquity.
The Temple dates back 2,500 years to the 6th Century BC and is a tribute to the monumental art of ancient Greece. In modern Greek history, Aegina was actually the first capital of Greece after the War of Independence and not Nafplio, as most assume. Aegina’s history and traditions are born from the countryside. Just north of Aegina town, one single column (Kolona) on a hill is the only remnant of the ancient Temple of Apollo. Built in 520 BC, the Temple was situated on the site of previous temples on the prehistoric acropolis. Another temple was dedicated to Delphinian Apollo, protector of sailors. The Aeginetans honored the god to such a degree that they replaced the image on their coin from the sea turtle to a dolphin.
Among the highlights of Aegina are the many beautiful beaches including
Marathon a picturesque, sandy stretch of beach closest to Aegina town;
Agia Marina, a well-organized, sandy beach with all facilities and
Perdika beach known for its quality seafood taverns. Here, the
gastronome can enjoy the true taste of local cuisine. In addition to
such delicacies, as octopus and sardines on the grill, a unique local
fish, katsoula, found only in the waters around Aegina, and acclaimed as
the most delicious in Greece can also be enjoyed. And, of course, the
taste of the local wine is unforgettable. One of the recent annual
events of the island is ‘The Aegina Fistiki Fest,’ a three-day festival
of music, art and culinary events celebrating the island’s famous
pistachio (in Greece, ‘fistiki.’). The delicious taste of Aegina’s
high-quality pistachios is attributed to the island’s unique climatic
conditions and the volcanic element of the soil. Don’t miss the island’s
pistachio sweets, including the local ‘pasteli,’ with Greek honey and
Aegina pistachios. Athens to Aegina day trip is full of discovery with a
2-hour stay on the island for exploring its rich history,
archaeological and architectural landmarks – and allowing plenty of time
to enjoy the island’s famous pistachio sweets in a cafe along the
beautiful port.