Astypalaia, the geographical and cultural bridge between Cyclades and Dodecanese, has a mysterious wild beauty that lets no traveller forget his steps within the hidden abundance of the island. Chora, its capital, is a genuine sample of the traditional architecture of Cyclades, even if the island belongs administratively to the Dodecanese. Whitewashed houses and blue windows, stone windmills and light blue domes, labyrinthine alleys and flowery courtyards spread amphitheatrically on the slope of the hill of the Venetian castle of Quirini family. The convoluted coastline, broken up in pristine bays and small coves, and the beautiful landscapes of Astypalaia seem like they have been untouched from the passage of time, while the local people have managed to maintain the authenticity of this enchanting place alive.