KOUFONISI TRAVEL GUIDE

KOUFONISIA > HISTORY

HISTORY

In the course of history, Koufonisia followed the fate of the rest of the Cyclades islands. They were dominated by the Venetians and the Turks, who, mostly in the 17th century, fought against each other for the control of the Aegean Sea.

Residents of Koufonisia, either because they needed to or because they wanted to, often joined forces with the residents of Mani or with other pirates, who were using the channel between Pano and Kato Koufonisi as a safe shelter. The Koufonisia were set free along with the rest of the Cyclades islands and incorporated into the young Greek nation in 1830.

During occupancy (1941-1945), residents had difficult times. In the postwar period the island had 1000 inhabitants. However, many of them migrated to Athens in order to find a job and many men left to go to sea to earn their livings.