AEGINA ISLAND - GREECE - Αίγινα - ΕλλάδαAegina is one of the Saronic Islands of Greece in the Saronic Gulf, 17 miles from Athens. Tradition derives the name from Aegina the mother of the hero Aeacus, who was born on the island and became the king of it. During ancient times Aegina was a rival of Athens, the great sea power of the era. Aegina has a long history, dating from the Neolithic (4th millennium BC) to the later years. The high points in its history were the period if its great prosperity (657-459 BC) and the short period when it was proclaimed first capital and home of governor Ioannis Kapodistrias.
Witnesses to this historical path are the hill of Kolona with its characteristic column and the findings of ancient settlements, Paleachora with its post-byzantine churches, the Temple of Afea (Aphaia), the public buildings of the Kapodistrian period, Mount Hellanion/ Oros and the monastery of Chrysoleontissa.
