12 Facts About Mykonos

Mykonos is a Greek island, part of the Cyclades, lying between Tinos, Syros, Paros and Naxos.

Mykonos's nickname is "The Island of the Winds", due to the very strong winds that usually blow on the island.

Tourism is a major industry and Mykonos is known for its vibrant nightlife and for being a gay-friendly destination with many establishments catering for the LGBT community.

Mykonos came under the control of the Romans during the reign of the Roman Empire and then became part of the Byzantine Empire until the 12th century.

In 1537, while the Venetians still reigned, Mykonos was attacked by Hayreddin Barbarossa, the admiral of Suleiman the Magnificent and an Ottoman fleet established itself on the island.

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Up until the end of the 18th century, Mykonos prospered as a trading center, attracting many immigrants from nearby islands, in addition to regular pirate raids.

Greek Revolution against the Ottoman Empire broke out in 1821 and Mykonos played an important role, led by the national heroine, Manto Mavrogenous.

Mykonos became popular with international "jet set" tourists in the 1960s.

In Greek mythology, Mykonos was named after its first ruler, Mykonos, the son or grandson of the god Apollo and a local hero.

Mykonos has a hot semi-arid climate because of the low overall rainfall, although it has lots of Mediterranean characteristics and it is highly influenced by the Mediterranean Sea.

Municipality of Mykonos is a separate regional unit of the South Aegean region, and the sole municipality in the regional unit.

In 2013 the Mykonos Biennale was inaugurated offering theatrical, cultural, cinematic, artistic, and musical productions.