Kea, formerly known as Hydroussa, is one of the Greek islands of the Cyclades archipelago located in the Aegean Sea. Archaeological research has made it possible to establish that the island around was a place of religious worship as early as in the 17th-18th century BC. Excavations also revealed the remains of a fortified settlement from the Mycenaean period. Today Kea, due to its location near the mainland and little popularity among foreign tourists, is eagerly visited by Athenians as part of short holidays or weekend trips. Ioulida is the most important town on the island. Its inhabitants have a relatively quiet and humble life because Kea does not resemble crowded, bustling resorts such as on Rhodes or Crete.
