Astipalea (or Astypalea or Astypalaia, Greek: Αστυπάλαια; Italian: Stampalia; Ottoman Turkish: استانبوليه İstanbulya) is a Greek island with 1.238 residents (2001 Census). It belongs to the Dodecanese, an island group of twelve major islands in the southeastern Aegean Sea. The Island is 18 Km. long, 13 Km. wide at the most, and covers an area of 99 Km. The coasts of Astypalea are rocky with many small pebly beaches. A small band of land of roughly 10 kilometres, almost separates the island in two sections. The capital and main harbour of the island is Astypalea or Hora, as it is called by the locals. Astypalea has ferry connections with Piraeus and the other islands of the Dodecanese and flight connections with Athens.