History

"It was love at first sight"

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It started with Rosy and Nondas’ first encounter in Romania, and then, their first visit in the 70s, as wife and husband, to Agistri, a small island in the Saronic Gulf. When Nondas saw Agistri’s green pines, sandy beaches and the crystal clear turquoise water he had a vision. Where the sea meets the forest he imagined a traditional Greek style property with whitewashed rooms amidst
lush bougainvilleas, oleanders and hibiscuses.

At that time, the pristine island did not have electricity or cars. Donkeys were a mode of transport. Tricycles delivered well water to the island’s residents. Life on the gas lamp lit island was tough, but Rosy and Nondas Agianozoglou did not resist Agistri’s beauty and charm. Rosy’s Little Village emerged in the late 70s. Rosy recalls the days of using ashes to make the bedlinen become dazzling white. “We had to light the petrol lamps in every room, every night, and regularly clean
the blackened glass from the petrol.”

Life on the island gradually changed. A tricycle delivering well water transformed into a ship delivering water from Poros, an island near the Peloponnese. Around five years ago a desalination plant was built in Agistri and the water deliveries were no longer necessary. In the Late 90's a catamaran transported people a few times per day. Some inhabitants had cars on the island that were not really needed. Agistri locals came together and became shareholders of the Agistri Express, a locally owned boat that provides transfers between Agistri and Aegina throughout the year. Additionally, as a response to the island’s growing tourism, 2 Hydrofoils and a private ferry boat now offer regular transport from Piraeus to Agistri, via Aegina. This has brought an influx of people and vehicles.