Cyclades in Greece

Kyklos is the Greek word for circle. Because the islands are set up in a circle around Delos the islands are named Cyclades. They comprise about 220 islands. Bare rocky islands adorned with brilliantly white cubistic villages soaring on hills above the wine-dark sea, and fringed with terrific beaches. Since all the world has discovered this, they tend to be very crowded with visitors, especially in high summer. But most visitors feel the islands' attractions are worth putting up with the crowds. The Cyclades are also famous for the constant wind (called meltemi) in July and August that mitigates the heat a bit.