It is almost impossible not to love one's Σκιάθο at first sight. The history and culture, evidently in every corner, both have deep roots as the millions of trees like a huge umbrella to protect its beauty. The magic of beaches, landscapes incomparably… Some days and nights alone in Skiathos is sufficient to transform this enthusiastic love to pantotini love.
Unraveling the mess we discover that the history of Skiathos is a long and chequered. It starts from the prehistoric period, around 1,100 BC, with the first residents Pelasgians, proelliniko people who descended from Thrace. Followed by Halkidis, who built their city along the south eastern coast of the port, with marble walls, some ruins that can antikrisei today, while several later created the medieval castle town, north of the island.
Countless conquerors (Macedonians, Romans and later Venetians) passed by the island but the breach and leaving their cultural elements. During the Ottoman island for thalassoporous served as a naval base. It should even be mentioned that in Skiathos, namely I.M. Annunciation of the Virgin Mary, created the first Greek flag with white cross on blue background, in September 1807.
A natural consequence, therefore, is the architecture of the island have been shaped and influenced over the centuries, creating a mixture island component binds harmoniously with Pilioreitika and neoclassical features. A visitor to the town of Skiathos faces a predominance of small, densely populated and double-decker houses, made of stone and lime, while left and a simpler rural homes. And the island roads are narrow, paved alleys with almost nothing.
An even from the houses worth visiting one is home who lived Alexandros Papadiamantis, one of the great scholars of the island and the most important country, about 100 meters from the east coast city of Skiathos. This is a simple, modest house of stone and wood, however, presents architectural interest and operates like a time machine, traveling past the current visitor.
Speaking of sights, you can not neglect a trip to the Bourtzi, the small green peninsula that separates the port of Skiathos in two. That was until 1660 the fort, the amount of which can not be determined from the current ruins. The 1906 Bourtzi built in the first primary school, which has now transformed into a cultural center, which housed a beautiful summer theater.
And the city itself, however, presents «exploratory» interesting, because it is also the only settlement of the island. It was built relatively recently, that is, immediately after liberation from the Turks, in the extreme southeast of the island, on the hills which was the ancient settlement. When you find one in town worth visiting Diocese of Skiathos, N. J. Three Hierarchs, where they worked - among other things-and Papa-Adamantios (father Papadiamanti) and which today is the miracle of Our Lady Image Eikonistrias since 1650.
And if the church does arouse the religious feeling you, do not hesitate to aniforisete to the Monastery of Evangelistria, ten minutes from the port, whose reconstruction began in 1794. Truly blessed resembles a small church with the green enclosure and a unique view. At the threshold of one will encounter from time to time pagonia, cages with papagalous, ducks and a large area with church types, spoon sweets and wine. A patchwork, namely flavors, images and perfumes.
We referred earlier in the Castro, the peninsula in the north of the island, which were forced to flee the 14 th century Skiathites to escape from pirate raids. In the walls of the fortress built small and stenachora their homes, churches and tanks for water. With the establishment of the Greek state and the creation of the fort city abandoned altogether, and so far the position remains the ruins of houses, part wall, and some ekklisitses. Yet the deserted ruins in conjunction with the wild natural beauty of the Party, give the region an attractive epivlitikotita, which impresses the traveller.
The really startling aspect of the island, however, is water: The beaches. It will not be an exaggeration to exomologithoume that Skiatho antikrisame the most beautiful beach in the Aegean, Koukounaries, in the southwest edge of the island. The beach, known by the name of Golden Sand, with the blue water, dyed the trees of the forest which is almost at the water - although regulated-is a terrestrial paradise. The unique landscape omorfainei even further with Strofylia lagoon beside the beach, which hosts a rare wetland protected by European Environmental Programs.
The second most popular beach of the island, and was organized with beach bars, water sports and plimmyrismeni daily with young tourists, is Vromolimnos, south of the city. Do not worry your name. The beach holds a blue flag from the Hellenic Society for the Protection of Nature, and the only way vromisei is when pnigetai - literally-from the world, so often can not even walk anyone along the sea because of overbooking xaplostron. The price indeed, to 8 euros both with one umbrella, rather suggests that the beach responds to… more cosmopolitan.
If, again, prefer a less secular beach, with katagalana deep water, rocks, caves and «lalaria» (olostrongyla, white pebbles) prefer homonym beach in northeastern tip of the island. The only way to get to Lalaria is by sea - and weather permitting-with caiques starting each morning from the port and returning each evening.
On beaches worth visiting are also included King, a vast sandy beach only 2 kilometers from the city, Mandraki, north of the island, due to strong winds suitable for wind surfing, and Aselinos with coarse sand and pebbles, which is organised and camping. While the relatively inaccessible, road, Banana will enjoy the beautiful beach and marine games. Note however, behind the rocks, Little Banana, the beach is occupied solely by nudists.
For your stay in Skiathos we suggest the luxurious La Piscine Art Hotel in the city and around the airport lobby, which will admire artwork and tables of Polimeri and other great painters. During this period the price for a double with breakfast start from 130 euros.
Equally good are the choice of two hotels Santikos Hotels and Resorts, Aegean Suites, Great Ammo, and Skiathos Princess, in Paraskevi. Luxury suites and services for a number of promising star stay high standards. Prices this season for Aegean Suites start at 290 euros suite with breakfast and the Skiathos Princess from 130 per double with breakfast.
Finally, the ideal solution is the Atrium Hotel, built amphitheatrically on the slope of Agia Paraskevi, pnigmeno in green and views from all rooms in green Aegean. Prices this year for a double start at 112 euros with breakfast, while for a junior suite from EUR 134 with breakfast.
For the best food our proposals concerning the tavern «Katsarou», the beach Kanapitsa, with emphasis on steamed and thalassinous snacks, restaurant «1901 En Skiatho», the plates on Mediterranean flavors in a historic building in 1900, while for locally mezedakia visit tsipouradiko "Mouragio" at the port. This is the most timeless of psarofagon haunt the island.
The most "worried" will find countless reasons to continue their evening in the bar and club coastal city of Skiathos. Cocktail in the light of the moon, fun and dance with foreign and Greek rhythms are waiting for you to enjoy the most… live side of the island. From these shops stand out in the «Mainstreet club», the «Totem club» and «Bluechicks bar».
In Σκιάθο you can find yourself with a ship or a dolphin from the St. Constantine Fthiotida or from the port of Volos, but also by air because the island has a modern airport.
