Aghia Marina is the
biggest centre of tourism on Aegina during the summer. You will find
a large variety of accommodation, all located close to the beach, port,
shops, restaurants and bars of Aghia Marina. In August, the village is
full with both foreign and Greek tourists. Also, lots of Athenians have
a summer house in Aghia Marina.
The village used to be an suburb of the village of Mesagros (The
Middle Fields). The village is named
after the small church of Aghia "Marina" at
the south end of the beach. The church celebrates her nameday the
17th of July with festivities around the church and the beach area.
It takes half an hour by bus form Aegina Town to Aghia Marina. There
is a direct boat connection in summer between
Piraeus and the port of Aghia Marina.
There is a wide sandy beach in Aghia Marina for those who prefer
shallow waters and north of the port, there are rocks
and deeper waters for the more adventurous in the direction of the
area of Kavos.
There are many tourist shops, including those selling the locally
made pottery and local popular arts in Aghia Marina and also numerous
bars and tavernas which are mainly situated along the main street.
If you venture a little way out of Aghia Marina to the small
village of Alones, there are also a few tavernas serving very good
Greek food.
Temple of Aphaia
Whilst in Aghia Marina, it is worth visiting the temple
of Aphaia which is approximately 3 Km away. Built in local stone
(lime stone), this Doric style temple is well worth a visit despite the
fact that the artifacts were removed in 1811 by a group of archeologists
from Germany and England who sold them to King Ludwig,
and which have, since 1813, been on display in the Munich Glyptotheque.
The temple has been described as "the most perfectly developed of
the late Archaic temples in European Hellas".
The temple is original in that it is the only surviving
Hellenic Temple with a second row of small superimposed columns in
the interior of the sanctuary. It was built in the 9th Century BC in
celebration of the victory at the battle of Salamis (402 BC).
From the hill on which the temple is situated, there is a stunning view
of the Aegean and it has been said that if a line were drawn between
the temple of Aphaia, the Acropolis in Athens and the temple at Sounion,
it would reveal an equilateral triangle.
Most of the accommodation in Aghia Marina is operating
from Easter time until the end of September. A few accommodations are
open all year. Lately more and more shops and tavernas are
staying open all year.