Mykonos windmills

Four of the Mykonos windmills

Two of the windmills at sunset

The Mykonos windmills are iconic feature of the Greek island of the Mykonos. The island is one of the Cyclades islands, which surround Delos in the Agean Sea. The windmills can be seen from every point of the village of Mykonos, the island's principle village, which is sometimes called the Chora on Greek islands. The windmills are the first thing seen when coming into the harbour, as they stand on a hill overlooking the area. There are currently 16 windmills on Mykonos. Most of them were built by the Venetians in the 16th century, but construction continued into the early 20th century. They were primarily used to mill wheat. They were an important source of income for the inhabitants. Their use gradually declined until they ceased production in the middle of the 20th century. Their architecture is similar. They all have a round shape, white colour and a pointed roof. Such windmills are found in almost all Cyclades islands. One of these windmills has been transformed into a museum. The whole village of Chora and the harbour are visible from this point.

References

• Mykonos Windmills: The trademark of Mykonos Greece