Point of interest
Kato Mili (Die Windmühlen / The Windmills)
in Mykonos, Greece
The row of five 16th-century whitewashed windmills above town is Mykonos's signature landmark and the classic sunset photo spot.
Where it is
The Kato Mili windmills stand on a low hill at the southwestern edge of Chora (Mykonos Town), just above the Little Venice quarter.
What it is
The surviving row of windmills is one of the most photographed landmarks of Mykonos, especially at sunset with views over the sea. They are visited for free in the open air, and one of them (Bonis Mill) belongs to the island's Agricultural Museum.
History
The round, whitewashed windmills with their thatched conical roofs were built by the Venetians from the 16th century onward to grind wheat for the Aegean's maritime trade. Mykonos was a key resupply stop for sailing ships in the Cyclades, supplying above all the long-keeping rusk bread (paximadi). Milling gradually declined and ceased around the mid-20th century.