Skiathos

Skiathos (Greek: Σκιάθος), Latin forms: Sciathos and Sciathus is a small island in the Aegean Sea belonging to Greece. Near Skopelos, it consists of the main town (also called Skiathos) and the communities of Koukounaries, Kanapitsa, Vromolimnos and Troullos. Skiathos is the westernmost island in the Sporades group of islands. The mainland of Greece and Magnesia are to the west. The name of the island dates back to ancient times.

The island of Skiathos has 70 beaches all around it. Skiathos Town is a port ferry services connect to Skopelos, Volos, Agios Konstantinos and the rest of Greece.

The Municipality of Skíathos includes the islands of Tsougria and Tsougriaki, and of the islets of Maragos, Arkos, Troulonisi and Aspronisi. The islands total land area consists of 49.898 km². Its largest towns are Skíathos (pop. 4,988 in 2001), Χánemos (195), Kalývia (179), Troúllos (159), and Koukounariés (126).

The movie Mamma Mia was partially filmed on Skiathos and nearby island Skopelos.

Geography

Much of the island is forested. The area around the villages and Skiathos Town are farmland. The island's forests are pine and are located in the southeastern part of the island. The island of Skopelos can be seen from Skiathos with the more distant islands of Euboea and Scyros also visible in clearer conditions. The mountaintop, which has a communications tower, is to the west. The slope of the hill is to the north and contains several valleys.

Skiathos has approximately 70 beaches, including one nudist beach called Banana at the south end of the island.

In July 2007 a fire, sparked at a garbage dump near the beach at Agia Paraskevi, grew into a forest fire which spread across the island. Aghia Paraskevi was evacuated of all residents and tourists to nearby Troulos, which returned after the fire was put out.

History

In Ancient times, the island played a minor role during the Persian Wars. In 480 BC, the fleet of the Persian king Xerxes was hit by a storm and was badly damaged on the rocks of the Skiathos coast. Following this the Greek fleet was held to stalemate with the Persian fleet at Artemisium but finally managed to destroy the Persian fleet at the Battle of Salamis. Skiathos remained in the Delian League until it lost its independence. The city was destroyed by Philip V of Macedon in 200 BC.

Venetian Era

In 1207 the Gyzi brothers captured the island and built the Bourtzi, a small Venetian-styled fortress similar to the Bourtzi in Nafplio, on an islet just out of Skiathos town, to protect the capital from the pirates. But the Bourtzi was ineffective in protecting the population and in the middle 14th century the inhabitants moved the capital from the ancient site that lay where modern Skiathos town is to Kastro (the Greek word for castle), located on a high rock, overlooking a steep cliff above the sea at the northernmost part of the island. Kastro remained the only settlement of the island until the end of the Greek War of Independence, when the island's capital was relocated to the original site - where it still remains.

Ottoman Era

In 1704 monks from Athos built the Evangelistria monastery which played a part on the Greek War of Independence as a hide-out for Greek rebels.

The first flag of Greece was created and hoisted in the Evangelistria monastery in Skiathos in 1807. Several prominent military leaders (including Theodoros Kolokotronis and Andreas Miaoulis) had gathered there for consultation concerning an uprising, and they were sworn to this flag by the local bishop.

During the 19th century Skiathos became an important shipbuilding centre in the Aegean due to the abundance of pine forests on the island. The pine woods of the island were then almost obliterated. This was brought to a halt though, due to the emergence of steamboats. A small shipwright remains north of Skiathos town, which still builds traditional Greek caiques.

Transportation

The island is linked to mainland Greece with sea routes from Thessaloniki, Volos and Agios Konstantinos and also to the rest of the Sporades (all by hydrofoil, Hellenic Seaways). There also exists an airport at the northeast of the island, Skiathos Island National Airport.

The roads are to the south and to the east and to the northwest. There are no gravel roads to the central and the northern part. There is only one major road and is linked with all of the four settlements on the island. The one linking to the northwest are not used and has the view of the eastern part of Magnesia.

Notable residents

• Alexandros Papadiamantis (1851-1911) writer

Landmarks

• Skiathos (town) ("Chora")
• Agia Paraskevi
• Koukounaries
• Bourtzi
• Lalaria
• Evangelistria Monastery
• Kastro

Gallery

• 
  The Bourtzi of Skiathos at dawn.
• 
  Skiathos satellite photo.
• 
  An Air Malta flight prepares to leave from Skiathos Island National Airport.
• 
  A resort on Skiathos
• 
  Skiathos, October 2008
• 
  Skiathos, October 2008
• 
  Evangelistria Monastery, at the top of the island
• 
  Mikros Aselinos, a small beach

External links

• Official website Template:El icon