The first windmills of Greece were built in the 12th century. In their heyday, more than 50,000 mills were built, 2,000 of which could be found in the Aegean islands. The windmills were a place of production for local grain, and they were a key part of Greece’s economic history. Combined with the scenery of the Mediterranean Sea and the blue and white buildings of Cyclades, the whitewashed mills are an iconic part of Greece’s landscape.
Windmills in Mykonos
In the Cycladic islands, windmills were used to grind wheat and barley into flour. On Mykonos, for example, flour was used as currency. The first windmills arrived in the 16th century from the Venetians. Today, 16 windmills are left in Mykonos. Several are in the town center of Chora and tourists visiting Mykonos can go inside. Other windmills are now privatized or turned into lodgings. Apono Mili, a windmill in the main port of Mykonos, become an outdoor museum. Boni’s windmill is now part of Mykonos’s Agricultural Museum. The Museum is open from 4 to 8 pm in the evening during the summer.
Building a Greek Windmill
Windmills in the Cycladic islands are made of wood, and the sail is made from cotton fabric. Greeks used the same technique for ship’s sails. When the sails of the windmill turned, the grinding stone turned, and grain was crushed into flour.
The mills could work all day and night, so they could take advantage of the Meltemi Winds that blow through the Cyclades.
Villagers used to take their crops to the mill, and the mill man kept 10% of the product as payment. Building a windmill in the Cyclades was not easy. The exact position was important. They needed to face the northerly Meltemi winds and often were built like lighthouses at the end of capes. They also needed to be close to villages so that the villagers could easily access the windmills.
Windmills in Ios
Ios is in the Cycladic island chain, between Santorini and Naxos. The island is known for its beautiful beaches and has some of the most beautiful white buildings in Greece. Ios has 12 windmills that overlook the town of Chora. 3 of them are restored. Similarly to windmills in Mykonos, the windmills of Ios were for wheat and barley, and they create a peaceful scene beside the bars and tavernas of Ios’s town.
Windmills in Astypalaia
Astypalaia is a small island in the Cyclades group. It’s main city, Skala, has 8 windmills. The windmills are all renovated, and have special roofs called “xetrocharis” that move according to the direction of the wind. The windmills of Astypalaia are lined up in the center of the town of Skala, as if beckoning the visitor to walk up to the castle at the highest point in town. After walking by the windmills, you can also enjoy looking at the some of the most beautiful white buildings in Greece.
Windmills of Chios (Xios)
One of the most famous sets of windmills in Greece is found on the island of Chios. The four windmills on Chios are 1.5 kilometers from the main Chios Town, in the Tampakika area. The windmills are built overlooking the sea and are the perfect place to catch the sunset. Unlike the rest of the windmills in the Cyclades, these windmills are not blue and white on the outside, but keep their grey stone appearance. The windmills of Tampakika are a must-visit when visiting Chios!
