Sporades islands, the jewels of tourism in Thessaly
Skiathos of Papadiamantis, the island with possibly the most beautiful beaches in the country, the “Mama Mia” Skopelos destination for family holidays offering quality, Alonissos refuge of the seal Monachus – Monachus, the visitable wreck of Peristera and the beautiful Old Town, give an added value to the touristic product of Thessaly.
The Administrative Region of Thessaly has undertaken actions and initiatives to further promote and highlight the beauties and emotions offered by the Sporades throughout the world.
On Sporades islands the visitor can find almost everything that makes up Greece in miniature and upon his return home will have collected experiences and memories that do not fade with time, but create the desire to visit them again.
Mythology, history and culture, unique products and gastronomy, fine spirits, unique geological phenomena, unparalleled natural beauty, sea and picturesque villages in absolute harmony in winter and summer, emerald islands with modern and quality tourist infrastructure, churches and monasteries that fascinate with their architecture.
Each one of the aforementioned, together with the generous hospitality of the islanders, are our strong advantages in this effort.
Dimitris Kouretas
District Governor of Thessaly
An experiential journey
According to experts the root skia (σκιά – meaning shadow) comes from the many forests which cover the island. It has been inhabited with- out a break since the 10th century BC. For centuries it has enchanted all those who come to know it, from Venetian and Dutch travellers and cartographers to modern sunseekers. To discover Skiathos or even fully comprehend it – you have to know its secrets. No words are sufficient to describe this unique island, two thirds of which has been characterised as ‘Aesthetic Forest of Natural Beauty’, with beaches and a coastline that are monuments of nature. Amongst these are Lalaria, Koukounaries and Mandraki: some of which are noisy and bustling, but the majority of the island’s 67 beaches remain un touched by time or human hand and are peaceful even at the height of summer. Beaches account for almost the entire perimeter of the island, in places black or golden sands, else- where with white or multicoloured pebbles, with steep reefs and colourful seaweed and with crystal clear waters like those described in Homer’s Odyssey.
Skiathos has a magical hinterland with a network of paths covering almost 200 km, which pass through enthralling ravines, by streams and waterfalls and rows of plane trees, as well as mon- asteries, Byzantine monuments and chapels, and lead to rosy-coloured beaches.
The monuments of Skiathos are also fascinating. Kephala, the only site so far identified from the early historical period in the Sporades, is of particu lar importance, since it was inhabited from the 10th century BC, according to the earliest recorded evidence from early historical times. The northern most shore of the island is dominated by the Kastro (castle), which was established by the inhabitants of Skiathos in the middle of the 14th century AD, when the site of the present town was abandoned to seek refuge from pirate raids by Turks and Venetians. The inhabitants of the Kastro have left their mark in the picturesque chapels and fortifications which have survived the passage of time.
Take a walk through the town and ‘lose yourself’ in Plaka, a conservation area which is dominated by the ‘Captain’s houses’ and picturesque cobbled streets. You must stop at the house of Alexandros Papadiamantis, now a museum, as well as at the Bourtzi, the acropolis of Skiathos, which houses the Skiathos Maritime and Culture Tradition Museum. Its collections document the island’s great ship-building and maritime history.
The testimonies of the poets Seferis and Elytis are impressive: Giorgos Seferis visited the island in 1930 and wrote in his ‘Days 1’ (his diaries published in 9 volumes posthumously Ikaros Publishing 2003): ‘This afternoon I found myself on a small beach where a boat had been drawn up, the horizon a straight line beyond, and, in front of me, pebbles fashioned by the waves, each with its own individuality, like mankind. Infinite peace.’
Half a century later, Odysseus Elytis, inspired by the island’s natural beauty, created a ‘collage’ of its beauty spots, entitled ‘Optasia’. In his study, entitled ‘The Magic of Papadiamantis’ (Η μαγεία του Παπαδιαμάντη – Ypsilon Publications 1996) he states: ‘And here one contemplates how [an island] of roughly 60 square km with its 3,000 souls came to acquire the significance of a whole continent. “Elytis” experience when he found himself in Skiathos’ Galazia Spilia (the Blue Cave) has been immortalised in his description: ‘The moment the little boat entered the cave, from the dazzling light, suddenly you find yourself locked in an icy, blue green mint (The Little Mariner – Ο Μικρός ναυτίλος, Ikaros Publishing 1985).
And while Nobel Laureates may have found the words to describe it, your voyage of discovery goes beyond glossy descriptions. Skiathos, with its charm and abundant contrasts, is to a great degree just as Alexandros Papadiamantis left it and as he described it in his short stories. The island is not just a ‘classic’ holiday destination where you can swim in blue waters of exceptional beaches, walk along picturesque alleyways and enjoy the thriving nightlife. It is now a popular tourist destination for those who want a different kind of vacation, seeking in addition to relaxation, wellbeing and enjoyable sightseeing, the unique experience offered by nature and her bounty, the imprint of Orthodox Christianity and the specialised infrastructure of the tourism industry. On the island you will find opportunities for plane spotting, gastronomic and marine tourism (sailing, boat charters, cruises). You may enjoy diving to the magical depths of the seabed. There are more than 300 species of fish in the Sporades as well as rare red corals.
Lovers of nature and hiking can follow 25 different routes (with marked paths of between 1 and 6 hour’s duration) to discover the unspoilt natural environment and idyllic spots which offer stunning panoramic views, perfect for a rest or a picnic. The enchanting beach of Koukounaries is famous for its forest which stretches almost to the sea and for the Strofilia saltwater lagoon enclosed by it, a rare wetland area which is now protected. Skiathos is a modern island but it preserves centuries-old customs and traditions, most of which have been adapted to the daily lives of the inhabitants and visitors. Easter is mystical and all-encompassing. The epitaphios (the funeral service for the dead Christ) begins at 1 am on Easter Saturday, while the funeral procession to carry round the icon of Christ on a bier starts at 3 in the morning. In a solemn atmosphere the procession passes along all the cobbled streets of Chora. The town crier loudly intones the mournful psalms, while the cantors and the faithful chant the same words again while holding aloft their lit candles. Hospitable Skiathos teems with life and its beauty is as authentic as it is diverse.
Discover this island and you cannot fail to fall in love with it.
