Unfinished villa close to the sea in Kea Island

The island of Kea, or Tzia as it is also called, is a verdant island, with forests of Royal Oak, many herbs and other rare plants. It is also a natural habitat for many species of reptiles and birds. Due to the variety of flora and fauna a large part of the island is included in the NATURA 2000 protection network. The capital of the island, the village of Ioylida, has a long and interesting history, starting even at pre-historic years. Kea has exceptional beaches and one of the best system of walking paths and trails of any Greek island. Kea is a hiker's paradise with numbered routes that take you through a variety of landscapes to remote coves and the ruins of ancient cities. Kea is an island that gets popular in summer weekends as a getaway for Athenians but it remains calm during the week. Some beaches in Kea are organized with tourist facilities, such as Gialiskari, Koundouros and Korissia. The rest of Kea beaches are small and secluded, ideal to enjoy privacy and isolation.