The lovely Villa Sila is perched on the hillside, 350m from the delightful Paraga Beach, neighbouring the famous Paradise Beach. Paraga Beach boasts gorgeous silvery sand, a natural diving platform formed of rocks, sunbeds and parasols and trendy beach bars. Paradise Beach Club has been around for 50 years and offers buzzing parties to the exclusive wild sets of the world’s best DJ’s. Paradise has won awards and attracts the likes of Tiesto.
Ano Mera follows Mykonos Town as a charming shopping and dining destination. It boasts many quaint shops and cafes, spilling out onto the cobbled pavements. It is especially popular for Sunday brunch and the fresh produce market where you can buy local cheeses. Delicious Greek pastries can be bought in the bakery. Ano Mera is recommended for travellers interested in churches and monasteries. The beautiful Byzantine Panagia Tourlaina Monastery was originally founded in 1580 and is fronted by an ornate bell tower with triple bells. Its massive alter screen was made in 1775 by Florentine artists, and the carved marble and wood, frescoes, crystal chandeliers and gilded pulpit are all extremely impressive. The monastery is open by appointment.
The Vioma Organic Farm and Vineyard is very interesting to visit. The visits and the worker’s daily duties are accompanied by the sounds of classical music which is diffused around the estate. The vineyard produces red, white and naturally sweet red wine. There are also 20 beehives producing pure honey, organic seasonal vegetables grown, bread baked in the traditional wood oven and dogs, cats, chickens, turkeys, rabbits and the donkey called Marika are all part of the farm’s family. You can taste the wines and many other traditional products of Mykonos such as xynotiro, a hard sour cheese, tyrovolia, a fresh sour cheese, kopanisti, a spicy cheese and louza, a ham similar to proscuitto. For desert, you can taste the Mykonian amygdaloto, a sweet made of almonds and rose water.