The windmill is powered by the 'Meltemi', the strong northern winds characteristic of the Cyclades.
The interior contains a wooden mechanism that requires significant manual effort to engage the grinding stones.
It is part of a larger, dispersed open-air agricultural site that documents the island's self-sufficient agrarian past.
The site features a traditional 'sterna', or water cistern, essential for survival in the arid island climate.
The windmill's sails are often removed or folded during the off-season to protect the canvas from wind damage.
Boni's Windmill is a 16th-century agricultural landmark located on a hill overlooking Mykonos Town. It serves as the primary exhibit of the Agricultural Museum, a branch of the Mykonos Folklore Museum. The structure is a traditional cylindrical stone windmill, once essential for milling grain using the island's strong north winds. Inside, visitors can examine original milling machinery and equipment used in pre-industrial farming. The surrounding grounds include a threshing floor, an oven, a wine press, and a water tank. It remains one of the few windmills on the island preserved in working order with its original internal gear system intact. The site offers panoramic views of the Chora and the Aegean Sea. Access is granted via an uphill path leading from the town center.
The elevated vantage point just north of the windmill looking down over the white-washed buildings of Mykonos town toward the harbor.
Wear sturdy shoes with good grip, as the path is steep and the ground around the mill is uneven.
Visit during the shoulder season to avoid the intense midday heat, as there is limited shade on the hill.
Combine this visit with the main Folklore Museum in town for a comprehensive history of Mykonian life.
Attempting to climb the exterior structure or touching the delicate wooden internal gears.
Open seasonally; typically closed during winter months and on specific national holidays.
