Point of interest
Little Venice (Alefkandra)
in Mykonos, Greece
Colourful houses with balconies hanging straight over the sea; come at sunset for the waterfront bar terraces.
Where it is
Little Venice, properly Alefkandra, is a quarter on the western waterfront of Chora (Mykonos Town), where the houses rise straight out of the sea.
What it is
Today many of these historic houses hold bars, restaurants and cafés with balconies hanging right over the waves, and the quarter is one of the most popular spots to watch the sunset in Mykonos. The lanes are narrow and atmospheric, lively after dark and a central meeting point, including for the island's queer scene.
History
The row of colourful seafront houses took shape mainly in the 18th century and once belonged to wealthy merchants and ship captains, which is why they are also called "kapitaneika" (captains' houses). Small basement doors opening directly to the sea served trade and fed the legend that the owners were pirates. The nickname "Little Venice" arose from the resemblance to the Italian lagoon city.