Aegina, one of the most picturesque islands of Greece, emerges from the calm waters of the Saronic Gulf. The myths and traditions associated with this island are innumerable.

Aegina is known to have existed since the Neolithic Age. It has played an active role in all the important moments of the ancient and modern history of the country. The most important “living” monument of the ancient civilization is the temple of Aphaia. At that time, the island created the most powerful currency, the “turtle”, which threatened that of Athens many times.

In modern history it has become the first capital of the newly created Greek State. The foundations of the Government were laid on Aegina including the founding of the first National Bank, the first library, the first archaeological museum, the first mint, the first child protection institution. Here the first carriageway was built,too.

After the burial of St. Nectarios, the island became another great center of the Christian Orthodox Faith. An important source of income for the island, besides tourism, has been the cultivation of Pistachio trees since 1860.