The village of Adamas, sometimes referred to as Adamantas, will probably be the first place you will meet once you arrive on the island of Milos, unless you arrive by plane, with one of the few flights to the island. Adamas, which in Greek means ‘’ Diamond ’’ houses the main port of Milos, where in the morning the fishermen sell fresh fish and freshly caught fish, and is one of the main villages of the small island, with over 1,300 inhabitants residing all year round.
The story of Adamas
On 11 April 1821 the first naval battle against the Turks was fought in the port of Adamas. The inhabitants of the island of Milos, not having their own fleet, came to the aid of the ships belonging to the island of Spetses to destroy the Turkish ships. In 1830, Milos was officially annexed to Greece and began to develop economically thanks to its mineral riches.
During World War I, Milos hosted the Anglo-French fleet and Adamas served as a naval base to control the eastern Mediterranean region from attacks by German submarines. In the Second World War the island was occupied by the Germans on 6 May 1941 and was released almost 4 years later, on 9 May 1944. Once the hostilities ended, Adamas recovered and began to develop under the cultural, commercial and tourist aspect, becoming the main center on the island of Milos.
What to visit in Adamas?
Walking through the narrow streets of Adamas you will be able to admire the typical Cycladic architecture, with the white houses and the balconies covered with flowers.
Along the way there are a couple of World War II monuments and a park that most tourists do not know, great for enjoying a bit of tranquility!
The village of Adamas develops on a hill, in fact continuing along the dirt path, towards the lighthouse you can admire the breathtaking landscape of the bay and the island. To visit the Greek Orthodox church of Agios Haralambos, built in 1870 on one of the highest and most panoramic points of the island of Milos.
Very close to Adamas beach is the ancient church of Agia Triada, built in 842.
On the Adamas seafront there is a large sidewalk with dozens of shops, cafes, restaurants and water activities. In fact from Adamas it is also possible to rent rafts and motorboats to go to the discovery of the most beautiful beaches of the island.
Adamas also has a small thermal center located in a cave called "Ta Loutra Tou Lakkou". Water has a temperature ranging from 35 to 41 ° C and the well has a base of sodium chloride. In addition to being a source of relaxation, the thermal waters are recommended to combat arthritis, arthrosis, osteoporosis, muscle pain and neuralgia. The Spa is managed by the municipality and is open from June to October only in the morning. The entrance ticket costs about € 2.
Adamas is a village full of quaint shops that you won't find anywhere else on the island. If you are looking for souvenirs Adamas is the right place! Along the harbor there are plenty of restaurants, bars and night clubs suitable for every taste. Among them the Trapatselis, a tavern on the seafront that serves excellent fish dishes, and of the traditional Greek cuisine with a fantastic sea view.
Milos Mining Museum
The small Mining Museum of Milos is located about 600 meters from the ferry pier and will let you know the rich geological past of the island, starting from the Neolithic period.
The visit begins with a model that represents the volcanic explosion and a large geological map of the island.
You will find exposed rocks and minerals from various parts of Greece and the most important current industrial minerals on the island, fossils, obsidian, bauxite, alumina and aluminum. It also exhibits photographic material from the old mines of manganese and sulfur as well as the mining area, as well as an abrasion sander from the Roman era, a cedar trunk found in a bentonite quarry at a depth of 28 meters about 2000 years ago and a library that also hosts cultural and scientific content events. Definitely interesting and useful to learn more about this island.
Entrance fee: € 4 for adults and € 2 for children
Opening times: 10.00 am - 2.00 pm and 5.00 pm - 10.00 pm
Official site: click here
Adamas night life
Adamas has a lively nightlife, obviously not as wild as that of Mykonos, but boasts several places to hang out while chatting over a good cocktail by the sea. Here worldliness is more "adult", more sophisticated, perfect for those who love fun, but without excesses. Adamas remains a pleasant and relaxed place enough to enjoy the simple and genuine joys. This atmosphere really appeals to visitors who continue to increase every year.
The beaches of Adamas
In Adamas there is also a beach next to the port, the Lagada beach. It is a small bay of sand and pebbles surrounded by trees and equipped with sunbeds, umbrellas and a bar.
Papikinоu beach is located at the south end of the village of Adamas and has a length of about 500 mеters. The beach is sheltered from the wind with mixed sand and pebbles, the sea is shallow and always calm, ideal for relaxing. Near the beach of Papikinоu you will find municipal parking lots and саbins to change. There is also a tаvеrnа with offers sunbeds and umbrellas.
Excursions from Adamas
The best way to explore the beautiful coasts of the island of Milos is definitely with a boat tour. Most of the tours start from the port of Adamas, in the port area there are in fact many agencies where to book excursions. There are also different types of sailing or gulet excursions that allow you to visit the most beautiful beaches of Milos or the nearby islands Kimolos and Kleftiko. We advise you to book a full-day tour, which will also give you the chance to visit the nearby islands of Glaronisia and Polyegos. Very interesting is also the tour proposed by Milos Highlights which proposes a tour around the island of Milos and the visit of the roofless cave of Sykia.