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| Skyros | ||
| region | Central Greece | |
|---|---|---|
| Residents | unknown | |
no value for residents on Wikidata:  | ||
| height | 792 m | |
| no tourist info on Wikidata: | ||
| location | ||
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Skyros is an island of Northern Sporades in Greece.
background
With an area of 208 km², the island, 25 nautical miles east of Evia, is the largest of the northern Sporades with around 3000 inhabitants. While the southern part of the island is mountainous, barren, rocky and uninhabited, the approximately equally large northern part, in which almost all islanders live, is characterized by lush vegetation and large Aleppo pine forests. The highest point on the island is 792 m above sea level. d. Mount Kochylas. The island was settled as early as the Mesolithic. Remains of several coastal settlements from the Neolithic have been found. Syros seems to have been a stopover in the obsidian trade from Milos to the northern Aegean. The island's economic importance was low in antiquity. Around 475 BC. Skyros was conquered by the Athenians. Since then, it has been in Athenian ownership for several centuries, with a few interruptions. In ancient times, Skyros was considered poor, stony and barren, but it had beautiful, brightly colored brecian marble, which was very popular in Rome, chrome iron ore and a famous breed of goat. In the Middle Ages, Skyros was 'pirate booty' - that is why the main town is built on the part of the rock facing the island core. You couldn't see the village like this from the sea. In 1207, when the Byzantine Empire was divided up after the Fourth Crusade, the island fell to Venice, together with Skiathos and Skopelos, until it fell back to Byzantium in 1269. After the fall of Constantinople in 1453, Venice managed to regain possession of the island. With the conquest by Khair ad-Din Barbarossa the Turkish rule began (1537-1829). The Greek islanders were resettled to Corfu on the Venetian initiative in 1645, after which Skyros was repopulated by immigrants from the Thracian region.
getting there
By plane
Skyros Airport is served by both national and international airlines Airport is near the village of Trachy on the north side of the island and is about 17 km from the town of Skyros
By boat
Skyros has a ferry connection with the following ports: Evia (Kymi), Skopelos, Alonissos. The best Ferry connection is the ferry from Kymi in Euboea to Linaria
mobility
Especially to get to the more remote beaches you have to rent a vehicle, while the public bus service is sufficient for the main beaches between Cyrus town and Molos
Tourist Attractions
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- 1 Skyros town (Hora) (Σκύρος).
A walk through the alleys of the houses close to the mountain up to the castle and the St. George monastery is an experience. The interesting historical museum and archaeological museum are also worth a visit. - 2 Linaria. small, interesting port where the ferry docks and is popular with sailors.
- 1 Palamariou archaeological site. It is a prehistoric settlement of the Early and Middle Bronze Age Aegean (2500 - 1800 BC). You can see the remains of buildings and streets, the fortified harbor, which was of great importance for trade relations with the Cyclades, the eastern mainland Greece, Euboea and the north-eastern Aegean. Stone terraces, fireplaces, stoves, numerous pottery, stone tools and utensils, bone tools, metal objects, obsidian processing residues and local flint were found in the rooms and courtyards. Most of the finds from Palamariou are exhibited in a special exhibition in the Archaeological Museum of Skyros. The remains of the wall and its design suggest that the settlement was well fortified, with massive U-shaped bastions, rampart, moat and stone dam. This type of fortification appeared around 2300 BC. In the Aegean.
- 1 Agios Nikolaos chapel. Interesting and photogenic little chapel in a rock.
- 2 Agios Arthemios chapel. interesting chapel built into a rock, very photogenic.
- 3 Agios Panteleimonas chapel (Άγιος Παντελεήμονας). Small chapel worth seeing because of its beautiful location and view. In the immediate vicinity is an ancient quarry.
- 4 Agios Fokas Chapel. small photogenic chapel near the beach.
activities
- Diving. Due to the many underwater caves there are particularly interesting diving areas.
- sailing
- Boat tours
- horse riding. Horse lovers will appreciate the special breed native to Skyros.
beaches
In addition to the beaches mentioned here, there are many more to discover, some of which are difficult to access. Some of them are practically only accessible by boat.
- 1 Tou Papa to Homa Beach. The picturesque but a little difficult to get to nudist beach is located south of Magazia Beach, not far from Chora, directly under the huge rock on which the town of Skyros is located. It's a long and sandy beach. Tou Papa to Homa Beach is only accessible from the north side via a path from the main road. One has to go through a fence next to an old house that is along the main road and follow the path down. There are some caves and some rocks on the beach which is pretty clean. Of course there are no facilities on this beach, but Skyros Chora is close by.
- 2 Magazia Beach. City beach of Skyros town.
- 3 Lino Beach
- 4 Aspous Beach. Sandy beach with taverns.
- 5 Achili Beach. Sandy beach, not organized, secluded.
- 6 Renes Beaches. several Nudism-Suitable, not easily accessible bays in the wild south of the island.
- 7 Kolympada Beach. Nudism-suitable pebble beach.
- 8 Kalamitsa Beach. long sand-gravel beach, not organized,
- 9 Acherounes beach. beautifully located beach with cafes, quite crowded in the season right on the street.
- 10 Fokiotrypa Beach
- 11 Psarinas Cape. small beach in a scenic bay with lots of rocks.
- 12 Pefkos Beach. not organized, in a beautiful landscape, not overcrowded, with a marina for small motor boats.
- 13 Agios Fokas Beach. Sand-gravel beach with a tavern, relatively sheltered from the wind. Parking right on the beach. About 150 m further west, another beach can be reached via a path along the rocks, which is often used for nudists.
- 14 Atsitsa Beach. popular beach with a few taverns nearby, but without beach chairs and umbrellas, many rocks along the water, not overcrowded.
- 15 Kyra Panagia Beach & Kalogria Beach. Sand-gravel beaches, not organized, isolated.
- 16 Agalipa Beach. small beach in a beautiful bay.
- 17 Theotokos-Limanaki Beach. small beach in a very beautiful bay, very busy in the season, also called Markesi.
- 18 Agios Petros Beach. relatively large sandy beach, not organized.
- 19 Palamari Beach. extensive sandy beach, not organized.
- 20 Kareflou Beach. extensive sand-pebble beach, not organized, isolated, often windy with lots of algae.
- 21 Gyrismata Beach. beautiful, well-organized sandy beach, quite crowded in the season.
- 22 Molos Beach. the best organized beach on the island with many places to stay, taverns and hotels in the immediate vicinity.
shop
The only noteworthy shopping opportunities are in and around Skyros town
kitchen
All around the island you will find beautifully located beach restaurants. The food is usually good and not very different. Fast food, pizza, gyros etc. are also plentiful, especially in and around the capital.
- 1 Saint Peter. Well-known restaurant in a beautiful location on the edge of the forest with a view.
- 2 Anemomylos. Very well-known cafe in an old windmill on the beach with a good sea view.
- 3 Anatolikos Anemos. Restaurant with one of the best views on the island.
- 4 O Stelios. very popular restaurant with a beautiful sea view.
nightlife
Skyros is a rather quiet island without the noisy mass tourism of other Greek party islands, so that the nightlife takes place on a low level. So don't expect big disco nights or wild parties, just a few bars and beach bars to enjoy a drink. These bars offer a wide variety of music styles, from Greek to international songs, but everything is still fairly relaxed. Skyros nightlife is mainly centered around the capital. There are also a couple of beach bars in the beach towns of Molos and Magazia, which are converted into lounge bars in the evenings. Bars in Skyros are usually open until 2 or 3 a.m.
accommodation
Most of the accommodations are located near Skyros Town and Molos, as this is where most of the nightlife takes place in addition to the well-known good beaches, which is rather poor on the rest of the island.
security
You can safely move around the island at night, crime is almost non-existent, except for possible pickpockets. Caution is advised because of poisonous snakes between rocks and abandoned houses.
health
Practical advice
- According to the EC regulation, tap water should be of drinking water quality, but especially in summer it is advisable to buy bottled water to drink as a precaution.
trips
Excursions to the surrounding islands Euboea and the Northern Sporades are only possible with a lot of time and not as day trips
