The island of Donoussa is a small beautiful island situated 10 miles north of Amorgos and 16km east of the island Naxos. The island is 13.75 square kilometres and has a diameter of 5.5km. It is the easternmost island of the Lesser Cyclades. The highest point on the island is 385 meters (1263ft).
Donoussa does not have a big population, there is around 110 permanent residents on the island. The island is mountainous and have steep hills and cliffs and the tallest mountain is called, the Pope (“Pappas”).
Apart from “Stavros” that is the main village there is 3 other villages on the island. In the south of the island you will find small bays with sand while in the north there are 2 large bays and in the northwest you there is a cave wall.
History
It is known that the first inhabitants on the island came from Amorgos and found the village Stavros. Here they built the first Cycladic architectural church with blue a dome. In 1968 excavations where done and high-quality ceramic art was found, dating back to the geometrical period (end of the 9th century BC).
According the historians the island gets its name from the god Dionysus who lived on the island. In Greek mythology Theseus slaughtered Minotaur on Crete and took Ariadne with him and fled to Athens. On his way he decided to stop at the island Donoussa, which was then called “Zeus”.
Dionysus saw Ariadne and fell in love instantly. That’s when the goddess Athena decided to order Theseus to leave Ariadne on the island and leave without her. She later became the wife of Dionysus.
All historic finding shows that the island of Donoussa flourished during the Geometric Period. A Geometric Settlement and Cemetery where discovered that confirms this.
According to some Donoussa was a palce for exiles during the 2nd century BC as well as a hideaway for pirates. Between the 13th and 16th century the island was under the jurisdiction of the Venetian Duke, until its seizure from the Ottomans. The Ottomans visited the island once a year to collect taxes.
From the 19th century the island became more popular under shepherds from Aigiali and Amorgos. At the beginning of the 20th century there where 3000 inhabitants on the island that worked in the mines that was operational until 1938.
Despite the small population today there is an elementary, junior and senior high school on the island. The main occupations on the island are fishing, tourism and animal husbandry.
Interesting Facts:
Coordinates: 37°06′0″N 25°48′59″E
Danoussa Island Area: 13.75 sq. kms
Coast Length:
Population: 167
Telephone code: 22850
Postal Code: 843 00
Time Zone: GMT +2:00 GMT +3:00 (summer time)
Capital: Donoussa Town (also called Stavros)
Highest Mountain: 385m (1263 ft)
