All language subtitles for Francescos Mediterranean Voyage BBC 08of12 The Cyclades_ENG_Subtitles01

FRANCESCO: We're approaching one
of the most magical groups

of islands in the world.

The Cyclades,
also known as the White Islands.

It was here, 3,500 years ago,

that the mysterious people
from the east arrived.

They brought with them their
culture and their gods.

Who knows why they
left the mainland?

Maybe war or a natural disaster
meant they needed a new home.

Or maybe like the millions
who come each year today,

they just heard that this place
was paradise on earth.

I'm sailing from Venice to Istanbul,

following the trading routes
of my ancestors.

We've left the Greek mainland

and are now island hopping
through the Cyclades.

These islands are home to one of
the oldest civilisations in Europe.

Even for the ancient Greeks,

this was a place steeped
in myth and magic.

This is the most sacred
place in the Cyclades.

The tiny island of Delos.

Delos is like a dreamscape.

Barren and arid, yet scattered
with strange statues and ruins.

And this was just how the ancient
Greeks found it, because people had

been worshipping here for thousands
of years before they arrived.

The island is covered in temples,
shrines and sanctuaries.

People came here to honour ancient
Greece's most important gods.

What made Delos so special was that
it was the birthplace of Apollo.

The god of sun,
light, healing and truth.

He was also in charge of plagues,

so it was a good idea
to keep him happy.

There is no water here now, but this
was once a sacred lake,

where Apollo
is said to have been born.

It's guarded
by these ferocious lions.

But there aren't as
many as there used to be.

I must confess that in the 1600s,

we Venetians pinched one
and took it home as a trophy.

Today, Delos still attracts
visitors, but not because of Apollo,

but for a bit of a giggle.

The highlight

of Delos
are these unforgettable phalli.

They are not here to honour Apollo,
but his friend, Dionysus,

god of wine,
theatre and whole lot more.

Over the centuries, vandals
have chipped away at them.

Poor...

They are now a shadow of
their former glory.

People still come to the Cyclades
to worship.

Just a few kilometres from Delos
is Tinos.

Tinos is more than a pretty island.

It's home to an ancient icon of
the Virgin Mary,

believed to have
miraculous healing powers.

Every year, thousands of Greeks
come here to pray to the virgin.

But for some,
to visit is not enough.

You must prove your devotion.

These pilgrims test their faith
by crawling for one kilometre

on their hands and knees

up to the church
where the icon is kept.

The Panagia Evangelistria.

It takes over an hour to
crawl uphill to the church.

To help the pilgrims, a carpet
has been bolted onto the road.

I truly admire her determination.

The pilgrimage isn't complete
until the icon has been kissed.

Many pilgrims also leave an offering
here as thanks to the Madonna.

The church is filled with
hundreds of these beautiful
and strange silver lamps.

Each of these silver lamps
has been left by those
whose prayers have been answered.

A little image on the bottom of each
tells the story of
the miracle performed.

I don't know if I believe in
miracles, but the people I have seen

here and the stories they have told
have moved me immensely.

Back at sea, the sun
may still be shining,

but the Mediterranean winds are
testing the Black Swan.

Come to see this.

Massimo.

In the Middle Ages, most of the
Cyclades were ruled by Venice.

From here we controlled
the eastern Mediterranean.

The island of Naxos
was the centre of Venetian power.

We Venetians took Naxos in 1207.

In the heart of the town
you can still see our stronghold.

Poppy is from one of the oldest
Italian families on the island.

So, I have asked her
for a tour of this little Venice.

Venice was once a nation
of explorers and settlers.

It's incredible for me to see a
little bit of that spirit living on.

Boom!

I've been told
to get octopus for supper.

Fishing is still
at the heart of island life.

So, I'm going to try and catch one
the traditional way.

Michaelis has been a fisherman
all his life.

So, he should know
where to find one.

It's windy.

Francescos...
Come, we dive, I follow you.

Octopus hunting
is a time-consuming business.

Nets and rods don't work.

We have to dive down and grab them.

Michaelis can dive down
25 metres on a single breath.

Not so good if you are an octopus.

Octopuses fire jets of ink
when under attack.

You are really good.

It's a baby. It's a baby.

Yeah, it's baby. No cook.

Go back to sea, this very small.

I agree. Is little.
He has to live his life.

Home, yes, go home.

Oh!

We caught an octopus,
but it was a baby.

It's better stay home.

But I can't go back to the
Black Swan empty handed.

Don't tell Massimo, eh?

Massimo?

My last stop in the Cyclades

is the site of one of the greatest
legends of the ancient world.

In days of old, the stories were
told of a powerful island
civilisation called Atlantis,

which in a single day sunk
into the water.

This myth gave birth to new
myths of an underwater city,

living on, forgotten by time.

What happened to that island?

Well, some say we are on it.

This is Santorini,
a giant flooded volcano.

3,500 years ago there
was a huge eruption

and most of the island
sank beneath the waves.

The island's main town lies
at the top of these steep cliffs.

You can go up by donkey,

but I'm going to take the easy way.
Thank you.

No wonder Santorini is the most
popular island in the Cyclades.

Little is known about
Santorini's ancient civilisation.

But the local museum
should have a few clues.

Cycladic art
is some of the oldest in the world.

What survives of it was preserved
in the volcanic rubble.

Nobody knows why
they made these figures.

Maybe as offerings to the dead,
or as fertility symbols.

But their simple haunting beauty
is undeniable.

I like these blue monkeys,
painted 4,000 years ago.

Once again, we don't know what they
represented, but they look great.

It's getting late and there is
one last thing I need to see.

But I must hurry
so that I can get there on time.

At this time of day, people head off
to the western tip of the island.

The village of Oia is home
to what some say is the
greatest show on earth.

For a moment, it's as though
time stands still.

As the sun sets over the sea,

I can almost believe
that this was truly Atlantis.

Who knows if Atlantis
ever really existed?

Or if Santorini was even it?

But I do know that this
is about as close as you can get
to paradise on earth.

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