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Selected Islands : Mykonos | Naxos | Santorini Welcome to the Cyclades Islands. The Cyclades have been inhabited for at least 9,000 years and 5000 years ago there was a flourishing seafaring civilisation famous for the marble figures that were sculpted in the islands. The chequered history of the island group includes occupation by the Minoans, Mycenaeans then Dorians. They then came, successively, under the rule of Egypt, the Macedonians and then the Romans. By 400AD they were ruled from Byzantium, which endured for 800 years before it was replaced by the rule of Venice. This lasted until they came under Turkish rule in the 16th century. After a brief annexation by Russia in 1771 they returned to Ottoman rule. After the Greek insurrections against Turkish rule, and the Greek War of Independence, the islands suffered Italian occupation during the Second World War. The Cyclades can be considered the definitive Greek Islands with rocky landscapes, sandy beaches, brilliant white buildings and the blue domes of the churches, all against a backdrop of dazzling sunlight. In the mountains goats and sheeps are raised, whilst the more fertile islands, like Naxos produce crops like potatoes. Fishing is still a profitable activity but tourism is the most important facet of the economy. Some islands are more commercialised than others and one, Tinos, remains a place of religous importance as pilgrims visit the Church of Panagia Evangelistria , hoping for a miracle. The small, closely grouped islands are so named because they form a circle around the island of Delos. |