Perdika
village enchants many visitors with its simple charm. It
is a small fishing village set in a pretty little bay. The traditional
fish tavernas and cafés are situated on a raised terrace above
the small harbour and these are what attract the day visitor whether
from Athens or Aegina Town. It is claimed that this is the best
place on the island to come and enjoy a fish lunch overlooking the
peaceful bay and Moni island beyond.
How to get there
The village is very easy to get to (whether by bus, car, taxi or bicycle)
and is only 11 kilometres from Aegina Town. Simply follow the
coast road south from Aegina Town to Perdika ensuring that the sea
is on your right hand side. You cannot get lost! There
is new housing development on the approach road to the centre of Perdika
village but once into the harbour area its cul-de-sac location has
protected it against building intervention. The old town has the characterictics
of the Aegean Sea-style of white square houses and narrow streets. Lots
of charter yachts are having Perdika as their first or last day destination. Especially
in the weekends Perdika is very lively, mostly with Greek weekend tourists.
Food & drinks
Despite its small size there is enough to do in and around Perdika
to make a happy and memorable day. If you are visiting for the
day it is perfectly possible to occupy many hours with lunch as the
main event! On arrival it is best to re-energise with a frappé coffee,
local wine or beer from one of the cafés. Enjoy the view
and peaceful atmosphere. Then it is time for some activity. In
the afternoon you can watch the sunset from the many terraces, eat
some fresh fish and if you have still energy ..... the bars are open
until late ....
Camera Obscura
It is worth strolling across to the peninsula directly opposite the
harbour since you will find a low building which is actually a ‘camera
obscura’. Free and unsupervised entrance is allowed
and inside the dark room you will see a 360 degree image of the area.
This building has been placed in Perdika for the Light
& Image exibition which took place in may 2003.
Beaches & swimming
In the town you can find a small beach (not organised), and next to the big Church
of Agios Sozon, at the edge of town, you will find a spot on the rocks with
umbrella's where you can sunbath and swim. The closest organised beaches are Sarpa, Aiginitissa and
the beach on Moni
island.
Day trip to Moni island
Alternatively, get a ride to Moni
island from one of the little water
taxis. Once on the uninhabited island you can explore, enjoy
nature, watch the animals and take a swim in the crystal clear and
clean sea waters. In
the summer time the beach
is organised with sunbeds, umbrella's and restaurant. The
return ticket for the trip costs 5 euros per person, which you have
to pay on the way back.
Accommodation
Many people fall in love with the simplicity of Perdika and choose
to spend their entire holiday located in or close to the village. There
are a variety of accommodation options including small family run hotels
(some of which have small swimming pools); apartments & studios; or
private houses to rent. For the staying visitor there is a small
supermarket, a few smaller shops, kiosk, and bakery. However
for other facilities, such as banks or post office, it is necessary
to go to Aegina Town.
History
For those with an interest in history, Perdika has its own stories
to tell. Perdika, which literally translated means "partridge", has
been inhabited since the Mycenean era (1600 – 1100
B.C.) although, according to tradition, the original settlement was
at a higher level and was called Spitia. The name
Perdika comes from the Greek meaning ‘partridge’ as many
of these birds were to be found in the woods that existed in the area.
In October 1537, the pirate Barbarossa devastated the island and used
Perdika as his hideout. A century later, the villagers had learned
from the experience and, during the period of Turkish rule, used their
small boats to smuggle goods which they kept hidden on the island of
Moni. These sailors were known as ‘Kerkezi’.
On the cape opposite the fishing harbour, the Greek government built
a fortress before the second World War (and another at Tourlos at the
northeast of the island) to provide protection for Piraeus. This
was because, between the two forts, it was possible to cover the entire
area of approach in the Gulf.
Agios Sozon
The biggest festival in the village takes place on
September 7 each year in honour of the church of Agios Sozon. The
original church, built in 1904, was destroyed in 1943. The foundations
of the present church were laid after the war in 1947. The festivities
start in the evening of the 6th when the tiny streets are packed with
market stalls. Slowly
the crowd moves in the direction of the church where devotees kiss
the icons for their blessings. It is well worth a visit if you
happen to be on Aegina at this time. In any case we recommend
Perdika at any time of the year.
