The Minoans occupied the islands in the Middle Cycladic period, 2000-1500 BC, and the Mycenaeans around the 15th century, at the beginning of the Late Cycladic period. Cyclades became very prosperous after the arrival of the Romans in 190 BC. Their decline begun with the arrival of the Franks, who gave the islands to Venice. Then came the Turks, in 1453, which virtually opened the doors of Cyclades to pirates. In an effort to disorientate attackers, the local architecture devised the labyrinthine town-planning with narrow streets, which is the main feature in most towns.

The islands were revived by the tourism boom that begun in 1970s, after the world ?discoveredû their natural beauty, with their dazzling white buildings and bright-blue church domes, unusual landscapes, mild and pleasant climate with long periods of sunshine and strong winds to keep down the heat, sandy beaches, caves, traditional customs and architecture.

Some of the Cyclades, such as Mykonos, Santorini, Paros and Ios, have vigorously developed into tourist industry; others, such as Andros, Tinos, Kea, Kythnos, Serifos and Sifnos, are visited less frequently by foreigners but are favourites with local holidaymakers. All of islands are easily accessible by boat from Piraeus and Rafina, while some can be reached by air, with both domestic and charter flights from Europe.