Schinoússa

Schinoússa (also spelled Schoinoussa) hit the world’s headlines in 2006, when a huge cache of illegal antiquities was recovered in a police raid on an island villa, part of a spectacular smuggling case that involved the Getty Museum and a big Greek ship-owning family.

Nothing much else has happened here in the last ten thousand years, which is how the rich folks who hide out here like it. Scenically less attractive than the other small Cyclades, Schinoússa is still very Greek and traditional. There are only 85 inhabitants in winter, increasing in summer to around 200, most of them farmers trying to make ends meet.

They do grow exceptional yellow peas (fava) there, which they celebrated in late June with a fava festival in their honour, with wine, traditional music and dancing all night long.