Astypalaia covers an area of 97 sq.km and has a coastline of 110km. Its land is mountainous and barren and the characteristic of the island are the numerous gulfs and bays of its coasts. The capital of the island, one of the most representative settlements of the Aegean Sea, is the town of Astypalaia, built on the top of a hill, around a Venetian castle. The place fascinates the visitor with its strong colors, the bright white of its houses and the deep blue of its sky and its sea. Astypalaia is far from the great current of tourism and modern life, is an ideal place for quiet and pleasant vacations. In ancient times, the island was known as a place for abundant fishing and still today the clean waters of its sea are rich in fish. The island was inhabited from Prehistoric times. Archaeological finds show that the island was first settled by Carians long before the age of written history and that it knew great prosperity in antiquity.Otherwise, it seems to have shared the fate of the other Dodecanese, experiencing both Roman and Byzantine rule. Claimed by Venice in 1207, it fell to the Turks in 1540. It was occupied by the Italians from 1912 to 1945 and united with Greece two years later. The fishing villages, with their characteristic architecture, offer a sojourn in an intact beautiful natural environment. The architecture of the island is the characteristic architecture of the Aegean Islands. Its villages have white cube-like houses with white flat roofs. The imposing Venetian castle and the windmills of its capital are characteristic architectural elements of the place. Some nice beaches to swim are: Agios Konstantinos, Kaminakia, Vatses (near Livadia), Livadia, Marmari (near the camping), Steno, Analipsi, Mple Paralia (Blue Beach) (near Maltezana). Astypalaia is accessible by boat or airplane. There are at least 4 flights per week and during high season there might be more. At least one boat stops every day but expect 4-6 hour delays as the boat makes many stops in popular islands. The trip varies from 10-14 hours depending on the season and the in-between stops the boat must make. Blue Star ferries and Dane Lines boats are to be preferred. Avoid any Hellas Ferries boats (museum pieces). There is a camping site just outside Chora but be aware that it's right next to the local electricity board plant and it can be noisy at some nights (it's either the electricity plant or the camping restaurant music). However, it has nice shades, is well organized and you can book before you get there. Rumour has it that the coast guard makes a lot more patrols to stop people camping for free on beaches since that camping started operating under local owners.