Cycladic villages deserted the sea in the 13th century

Cycladic villages left the coastline at the beginning of the 13th century to settle on mountain heights like the Traghéa plateau on the island of Naxos. This displacement was caused by the loss of control of the Byzantine Empire and the constant ravages of Genoese or Turkish pirates in the region. Faced with these threats, the inhabitants abandoned the coastal areas to find refuge at altitude.