The seven windmills above the harbor at Chora — six at Kato Myli on the Alefkandra promontory, one at Bonis on the hill above the town — are among the most photographed structures in Greece. They appear on so many Mykonos images that they risk becoming invisible: a backdrop rather than a subject. They deserve more attention than that. They are 16th-century working structures built by the Venetians to process the grain that passed through this trading port, and several of them survived in active use into the 20th century.
History and Function
The windmills were constructed primarily in the 16th century during the period of Venetian influence over the Cyclades. Their position on the promontory above the harbor was deliberate: the northern meltemi wind funneled by the topography drove the sails, and the grain ground here was loaded directly onto ships below.
Mykonos had as many as sixteen working windmills at its peak. Seven survive in complete or near-complete form. The Bonis windmill on the hill above Chora has been restored and operates as a small folklore museum in summer, demonstrating the original milling mechanism. The six at Kato Myli have been restored structurally but are not operational.
Viewing and Visiting
The best views of the windmills as a group are from the sea approach — arriving by ferry or boat, the mills appear in silhouette against the sky before anything else. From land, the most useful perspective is from the water’s edge at Little Venice, looking up at the promontory.
The path that circles the Kato Myli windmill base is freely accessible at all times and offers the best vantage for photography in the late afternoon, when the light comes from the southwest and the white walls are fully lit. The Bonis windmill museum operates in summer months — check locally for current hours.
Practical Tips
- The windmill promontory at Kato Myli is significantly less crowded than Little Venice below it, yet offers equally good sunset views. Arrive on foot from the Chora side rather than walking up from the waterfront.
- For photography: morning light comes from the east and hits the sails and stone directly. Late afternoon light from the west illuminates the white walls. Midday is flat and difficult.
- The Bonis windmill folklore museum is small but genuinely interesting for understanding the mechanics — worth 30 minutes if you’re in that part of Chora.