Skiathos is a very charming and beautiful Greek island in the Aegean Sea which together with Alonissos and Skopelos islands is part of the Northern Sporades, belonging to the region of Magnesia and of course a magnificent destination to discover a magnificent corner of Greece.
This little island is a sort of little paradise,this island is undoubedtly the right place bringing together all the features for sunny,pleasant,relaxing holidays with the opportunity to admire and contemplate the magnificent landscapes and the unforgettable horizons of Sporades Island.
Skiathos is an island which is simply fascinating for its natural environment with sandy beaches,small rocky promontories,small charming bays.clean,crystalline waters,all symbols of those small Agean island scattered in the Mediterranean Sea and despite the island of Skiathos is of a very limited size,it has more than 60 beaches,a small Airport next to the coast of its capital and very good connections by ferry to Thessaloniki and Volos.
The entire population of the island is approximately of 6,100 inhabitants and it is mainly concentrated in the capital, which has 5,100 inhabitants.Other villages are Xanemos, Kalyvia,Troulos and Koukounaries, very small centres which are mainly populated by farmers.Unlike other Greek islands wherever you are in the various Hellenic archipelagos using mainly white as the main colour of the houses and buildings the colour used in Skiathos is apart white also a bright green and another peculiarity are the numerous red roofs you can see everywhere.The other fascinating island of Skopelos is located east of Skiathos and in its proximity there are some small islets such as Tsougriaki,Arkos, ,Tsougria,Aspronisi and Maragos all them depending from the municipality.
The island territory is mainly hilly occupied in major part by small forest with a flora and vegetation typically Mediterranean vegetation,the island surface is approximately of 50 square kilometres with more than 40 km of coastline.
In the year 2007 the island suffered a big fire near the beach in Aghia Paraskevi, that fire quickly spread throughout the island and many people were evacuated from that area.Just one year later In 2008 Skiathos and its neighbour island of Skopelos were protagonists as sets of the famous movie "Mamma Mia"starring Meryl Streep,Colin Firth and Pierce Brosnan and of course that event increased the popularity and the fame of the island,which apart its wonderful natural environment started to be visited by fans of those prestigious actors and curious people who wanted see and admire live that paradise scenario of such famous film.
The island of Skiathos as other Aegian and Greek is embraced by ancient Hellenic legends.Pelios, the famous Magnesia hero,son of the Gods Poseidon and Tyros,was banished from his homeland and conquered with his loyal soldiers leaving his birthplace started to sail in the Aegean sea conquering the islands of Skiathos and Peparetos (the current Skopelos) and after regaining fame,later with the support of Cheiron,he left islands and became king of the historic and legendary Lolcus.
According to the first historic documents appeared about the island ,Skiathos was inhabited by Pelagians populations and during the period of the Greek colonisation became an important Ionian settlement.The official foundation of a town dating back to the 7th or 6th century B.C.and it was discovered southeast of the main current harbour.The town was fortified and used until the 14th century,when the population as the took refuge in its interior escaping from the villages which suffered several invasions.
The island was several times attacked by the Persians and it was an important base of organisation to prevent the incursions of the Persians fleet during the famous naval battle of Artemisium.In the following centuries Skiathos was part of the Delias League and it was also a stronghold of Athens in the Sporades Islands as a sort of defencive shield against the attacks of the insidious and historic rival : Sparta.
After the defeat of Athens in the famous Peloponnesian War,the island was under Spartan rule and it became an oligarchy.The historic Peace of Antalcidas in the year 386 granted autonomy to Skiathos,but the Spartans returned on the treaty and regained the island where they establidhed a garrison. The Spartans was released during the campaign in Chabrias in 377 and Skiathos regained its democratic institutions becaming an Athenian naval base for the famous expeditions against Philip II of Macedonia.
After the battle of Chaeronea, the island became a Macedonian land and during the second War of Macedonia,Philip V of Macedonia ordered the destruction of the island to avoid its conquest by Rome.
Under Roman rule,Skiathos gained a local autonomy thanks to the Emperor Marcus Antonius for the heroic help and support of its inhabitants in occasion of the battle of Philippis.During the Byzantine Empire, Skiathos was attached several times by Thessalys and Macedonians and during the 7th century,the Island was constantly besieged by Saracens.
In the year 1204 the island was part of the Republic of Venice.The Venetian brothers Andrea and Geremia Ghisi who also conquered Cyclades Islands granted various privileges to those islands with the "Capitula sciatic and Scopuli",but suppressed the Orthodox diocese.Ghisi family ruled the island until 1276,after the Venetian domination the inhabitants of the island in front of several dangerous situations due a multitude of invasions in the 14th century abandoned the coasts anf they mainly moved in the interior of the island.
In the year 1453, when Constantinople was taken by the Ottomans the islanders asked the protection of the Venetian Republic,who provided in that occasion the restoration of the Orthodox diocese, . Venice protected Skiathos until 1538 when it was attacked and conquered by the Pasha of the Ottoman Empire and his fleet.Skiathos belonged then to the Ottoman Empire who was represented on the island by a council of elders representing the people who elected them.In the 17th Century the Venetian Admiral Francesco Morosini conquered Skiathos but theTurkish forces retook the island quickly.
The Ottoman administration of the island applied several kind of taxes called "agha""qadi" and the Greek inhabitants of the island had to pay an annual haradj a kind of tax to permit them to live in the territory.At the end of the 18th century,when the Ottoman Empire began its decline and it was attacked from all sides and many Turkish inhabitants decided to come back to the motherland a safer place to live. In next the Ottoman presence became softer ans a relative autonomy allowed the island to develop a merchant fleet During the Revolution of Orloff in 1770, Skiathos vessels participated in the battle of Chesme on the Russian side and also joined the insurgent Greek fleet during the Greek War of Independence.
The island served as a refuge for fighters and inhabitants of Thessaly and Epirus ,approximately 35 000 people.That huge and large influx posed problems quickly in terms of public order.Many incidents took place and in1823,the island was the subject of an attempt which failed Ottoman landing. Skiathos was built after independence and the population then left Kastro and moved back to the coast.
The visit of Skiathos is very pleasant and not very long due to the limited area of the island.The centre of Skiathos is a set of small streets and alleys very characteristic the houses with colourful details on the doors and windows.There are also a number of neoclassic buildings of significant and relevant value,beautiful Mediterranean flower gardens and courtyards very picturesque.
One of the highlight of the town and proud of all its inhabitants is Limnia Papadiamantis Museum the exhibition is dedicated to Alexandros Papadiamantis, the greatest prose writer of modern Greece, .Papadiamantis was born in Skiathos in the late 19th century and he is considered one of the most prominent figures of Greek modern literature.Although the town centre is very small as the island Skiathos has several small churches-monasteries located throughout the territory,the most important are Panagia Evangelistria Panagia Kounistra and Panagia Kechria.
Panagia Evangelistria is a Monastery located about 4,5 km north of the centre of Skiathos and it has an important historic significance because it was there which was made and blessed the Greek flag with the white lines crossing the blue background,the current flag of Greece.In 1704 the monks of Mount Athos built the monastery Evangelistria, who had an important role in the War of Independence from the Ottoman Empire as a hideout of the rebels.
The first Greek flag was created in the monastery Evangelistria in 1807,several years before the outbreak of the revolution of 1821.It is believed that the monastery has also served as a place to plan the rebellion against the Ottoman occupants,as many heroes as Theodoros Kolokotronis and Andreas Miaoulis who swore on the flag of Greece there.The cross represented the importance which had the Orthodox Christian Church in the liberation of Greece from the Ottoman Empire, while the nine stripes represented the syllables of the Greek state motto : Liberty or death.
Panagia Kounistra is a monastery dated 17th century located approximately at 8,0 km from Skiathos.The Virgin Orhodox of Kunistra.is the patroness of the island and also a relevant pilgrimage destination to visit the local virgin in this Orthodox monastery.There is also a legend about the icon of the Virgin,it was found hanging on a pine,from that took its name: Kounistra which means Moving.
Panagia Kegria is the other important monastery and it was built in the 18th century on a hill above the bay of the same name at about 9,0 km north-west from the centre of Skiathos.The building is pretty small but very interesting with inside some typical Greek-Orthodox religious objects,the environment is fantastic in particular for the beautiful views of the island in a typical Mediterranean vegetation.
Skiathos town has a port for fishermen and other pleasure boats.The main harbour of the island is dated t 1830 and on a side of the port there is Bourtzi where you can still see the ruins of the old fortress of Kastro located on the northern edge of the island ,where the natives inhabitants in the 14th century found a shelter to avoid the pirates.
Kastro was governed by the Byzantines until 1453,then by Venice in the 15th and 16th centuries and occupied by Ottomans until 1821 and finally arose when the Greek revolution it joined the Greek State.Apart from the ruins of the castle, you can visit the Church Gennisi tou Christou which is still well preserved.In Kastro,now abandoned,you can find three of the thirty ancient shrines that existed
in the past,despite the ruins that place remains today as a place of tourist interest for its history and significant cultural value.During the 19th century it became an important centre of shipbuilding thanks to the abundance of pine forests of the island .
Bourtzi peninsula is located in front of the town of Skiathos.Bourtzi was a fortress built by Venetian brothers Ghisi brothers who ruled the island since 1207. It was destroyed in 1660 by the famous Venetian admiral Morosini.during the operation to reconquer the island. Bourtzi is connected by a bridge to the harbour separates into two parts old and new,today you can still visit the ruins of the castle walls and the points where the church of St. George and the fortress were rebuilt.Later, in the early 20th century was a public school built in Bourtzi and today that old school is used as a cultural centre.
Another natural beauty of Skiathos is Strofilia lagoon located in the southwest of the island, just at the back of the splendid beach of Koukounaries.It is is a place of magnificent and exceptional natural charm and it is a protected area by European Community for environmental programs.
The 40,0 and more kilometres of coastline with incredible beaches and outstanding natural landscapes are undoubedtly a great highlight of this splendid island.The most popular beaches are those of Bourtzi, Lalaria,Plakes,Cojili, Megali Amos, Canapitsa,Janemo, Megas Ialos,Elia,Aselinos and Koukounaries among others.There are other beaches everyone with its particular features one of them called Banana is preferred by nudists while to mention a record the beach of Koukounaries is the second in Europe for iodine content and are in fact visible crystals glittering on the sand and in the water.Very special and beautiful beaches are also Bromolimnos,a beach club,close to it there is is the peaceful Mantraki Kegria and another one called Lalaria is absolutely beautiful and it can be reached only by boat.
Local gastronomy is excellent,starting from the famous Mezes little starters the equivalent of Italian aperitifs or Spanish tapas,roasted fish,seafood or the famous chicken fillet stuffed and filled of banana,lobster and naturally the presence of the most traditional Greek specialities such as Moussaka,Papoutsakia, Saganaki this last one consisting in fried cheese usually serve with other ingredients such as prawns,
The Greek salad Horiatiki, with tomato, cucumber, pepper, onion and sometimes accompanied by olives and feta cheese, and dressed with olive oil and oregano,sometimes accompanied with lettuce and the famous Taramosalata, which is fish roe mixed with boiled potatoes or pieces of wet bread are also often present
just like the ,Spanokopita, wrapped in spinach pasta and the Tyropita cheese usually feta wrapped in pasta.The delicious and tastefully Psarosoupa is a fish soup cooked with a wide variety of fish, and various kinds of vegetables such as carrots,parsley,celery, potatoes,onion adding olive oil .
Although Skiathos is a small island it offers a very lively nightlife,there are many trendy and nice clubs as Kalua,Cabos and BBC the areas of Bourtzi,Kentavro and Maraba also offer a good number of interesting -bars.
Skiathos Airport Alexandros Papadiamantis is located in the northeast of the island,it is very small only1,570 m long,rhe aircraft made short flights to the cities of Volos, Kavala or Thessaloniki to refuel,.however, at the beginning and end of the holiday season there are some direct flights to Great Britain in a majority by small airline and it can be reached from Athens almost daily.You can reach Skiathos by boat or hydrofoil often from the city of Volos,or from the area of Thermopylae, but never from Athens Piraeus so you would have to travel to those places travelling by plane from Athens Airport.
The island is connected to the mainland Greece with sea routes to Thessaloniki, Volos and Agios Konstantinos and also with the rest of the Sporades hydroplanes through the line "Hellenic Seaways. Seaways,there are also ferries for vehicles, but they are regular outside the holiday season.
Although Skiathos is a small island Skiathos is in the last decades well known a great destination,furthermore the visitor can also enjoy the nearest islands of Skopelos and Alonissos a wonderful combination of Aegean Islands,the charm,the beautiful natural environment,remembering the epic and legendary past of the legendary ancient Greece are in these crystalline waters of the Sporades Islands in a beautiful and captivating place called Skiathos which will make you fall in love with it at first sight.
Francesco Mari
Recommended Hotels in Skiathos
Hotel Atrium
Hotel Boutique Bourtzi
Hotel Sunset & Apartments
Hotel Paradise
Villa Apollon Skiathos
Hotel Bay Troulos
Hotel Angeliki Beach
Hotel Panorama
Hotel Costas Mary
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