Perhaps one of the most characteristic elements of Mykonos is the Mills. The most photographed are the mills located in the south of Chora, between the picturesque Alefkandra and the district of Niohori, and impress every visitor with their all-white, overwhelming size, lined in a row, facing the sea.
The windmills appear to have been on the islands of Greece from the early 15th century. It is during the end of the 18th century and into the mid-19th century that the windmills were found to operate in Mykonos. Apart from Chora, windmills also were used in Ano Mera. In general, the frequency of strong winds in Mykonos advocated the use of mills for the grinding of the wheat.

The ownership of the mills was usually consumer cooperative. The owners were wealthy landowners, merchants, sailors, etc. Namely they were people who had authority and power in every local community. The mills were also the property of some monasteries such as the Panagia Tourliani, mainly as a result of donations. It was towards the middle of the 20th century, when the mill trade was coming to an end that a few mill owners had become millers.
There are many reasons as to why there were so many windmills in the Cyclades. One is due to the fact that they are amongst the windiest areas of the Mediterranean. Mykonos is exceptionally windy, where the calm days do not exceed an average of ten per year. With the aid of the windmills the inhabitants were able to take advantage of an abundant source of wind energy, and improve their living conditions in the small and remote communities that they lived in. In addition, at that time, flour was a main ingredient in their diet, and so the mill facilitated the grinding of the grain.

The island had over twenty mills but today, seven out of the ten are maintained. Until the end of the 20th century these mills would grind the wheat using the inexhaustible strength of the north wind. The windmills of Mykonos contributed to the economic growth of the island, and as it became a necessary port of call for the ships passing through the Aegean Sea, they would supply them with rusk. A monumental wood-burning oven is the famous “Gora Oven” in Niohori
The presence of windmills in insular Greece is documented in the beginning of 15th century. Later, during the late 18th century to the mid 19th century it is established that 28 windmills were functioning in Mykonos. Apart from the town, windmills functioned also in Ano Mera. Generally, high winds frequency in Mykonos favored this milling operation and marketing of cereals.
The ownership of the mills was generally cooperative. Their owners were wealthy landowners, merchants, sailors, etc., which means they were people who held power and authority in each local community. Mills also belonged to monasteries, such as the Virgin Tourliani , mainly as occasional effect of religious donations. During the 20th century, the final phase of the windmill history, several mill owners were millers themselves.
There are many reasons why windmills are popular in Cyclades, because Cyclades are the most windy areas of the Mediterranean. Mykonos is especially windy, as there are no more than ten windless days per year, on average. By having a windmill, the residents were able to take advantage of an abundant source of energy,wind, and as a result they were able to improve the conditions of their lives in their small and remote island communities.Additionally, during times when wheat and barley were the basic ingredients of the local diet, the windmill served as a time and labour-saving machine.
Today, seven, out of the ten mills which until beginning of the 20th century, would process the local wheat, using the unfailing power of the wind, have been preserved. The windmills of Mykonos, contributed to the economic growth of the island, as it became a necessary stop, for the purchase of paximadi (ship’s biscuit), for ships playing the Aegean. The “Bakery of Yiora”, in Neochori, with its wood-burning over, is a working example of the bakeries of past time.