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Island scene: Across the shimmering water from the eastern coast of mainland Greece, lie the Sporades islands - Skiathos, Skopelos, Alonissos and Skyros.
Here the visitor can unwind and sense the languid tempo of island Greece with its orchards, sea and green hills. All four islands have a magic of their own which is truly varied: not just rock - ribbed coasts and ribbons of golden sands, but pine - perfumed air, incredible sunsets, and uninhibited fun in Greek tavernas on some waterfront.
Yachts mingle with fishing boats, and fishermen will tell you of unsuspected grottos and fishing spots teeming with fish. You can swimm, sail or spear-fish and at mealtimes enjoy the good local food and inexpensive wine. The seafood especially is remarkable - lobster, octopus and, most remarkable of all, enormous prawns often baked with cheese and fresh tomatoes. And even in the humblest taverna you can finish your meal with superb melon, watermelon, peaches, figs and grapes.
There is no planned entertainment in these Aegean islands. So a basic appetite for just enjoying swimming and lazying in the sun is essential, getting your supplementary pleasures from short sea trips by motor launch, fishing, or rambling at will. For fun after sunset the entertainment scene is informal yet lively. There is no best-dressed contest! Most of the hotels are open to non-residents and serve anything from morning coffee to coctails.
Climate: Judging by the bronzed islanders, and by the annual sunshine records, a summer of sun and cloudless skies is no excepation. April and May are fine, warm months with temperatures ranging from 55 - 75 oF. June, July and August are the warmest with temperatures reaching as high as 95 oF. September and October are both good months, warm with a clear atmosphere and temperatures up to 75 oF. In summer the northerly wind of the Aegean Sea, the Meltemi, gives the islands a briskness and clarity even greater than that of mainland Greece.
Accommodation: As the islands' popularity grows, so the tourist industry inevitably flourishes. There are a lot of hotels, but not enough for the tourist flow of the high season, so it is advisable to book early. There are, however, villas, and rooms to rent from individual families. For these you can contact the local tourist police.
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| Skiathos
41 nautical miles from the town of Volos
It's green, soft and idyllic, with some 70 sandy inlets, several bays and three harbours. Its highest wooded summit rises to 438 metres. Around the island there are no less than 9 smaller islands. Two of these, called Tsougries, lie across the main harbour offering safe anchorage to boats, with a small marina for yachts.
The principal town, also called Skiathos, was built in 1830 on two low hills. It is the hub of the tourist summer season, with several hotels, neat villas and rooms to let for any lenght of time. Of interest in the town is the home of the Greek writer, A. Papadiamantis, who immortalized Skiathos in his short stories.
There is a good road in Skiathos which hugs the southern coast with its many lovely bays, linking the town with Koukounaries - the famous pine grove - and the beach of Agia Eleni. Another road connects the town with Asselinos. A convenient way to get to know the island is by motor launch. They run at regular intervals to the more popular beaches for a moderate fare.
Food of all kinds, especially fruit and vegetables, are plentiful. If you prefer to eat out, there are tavernas and self-service restaurants. The nights in Skiathos are especially lively. After a day by the sea, visitors gravitate to one of the tavernas, cozy bars, or discotheques.
Beaches and Places of interest
Koukounaries, the fabulous pine grove after which the region is named. It fringes a long stretch of golden sand for 1,000 metres, and most of its 30 metre width is shaded by pines and shrubs. There are hotels, restaurants and refreshment stalls. You can get there by bus from the town (12 kms), or by motor launch. Behind the grove there is a lovely lagoon, wheat fields and olive groves. From Koukounaries you can walk to the beach of Agia Eleni, which faces the southern shores of Mt. Pelion. It is splendidly isolated and offers good fishing. Also from Koukounaries, it takes 40 min. on foot to reach a quite unspoilt strip of coast, Mandraki, also known as the port of Xerxes. Lalaria, is another famous beach with large pebbles on the N.E. side of the island, accessible from town by boat. The Kastro, or ancient walled town, lies two hours to the north of the town on foot. Accessible by motor boat as well. In the 16th century, the whole population moved to the impregnable rock which rises to the northeast of the town of Skiathos and built their Kastro. It stands on a rock projecting into the sea and overlooking a wild and jagged coast. A drawbridge was its only link with the rest of the island in the old days, but today it can be approached by climbing up some steps. Its walls once enclosed 300 houses and 22 churches. None of the houses remain, and of the two churches the Church of Christ is worth a visit for its icons and carved wooden screen. Excursions are organised in summer daily to the nearest island Skopelos and to Alonissos. There are also organised tours round the island by boat.
Tourist facilities
· Yacht harbour: Supply station and facilities for mooring, refueling and revictualling.
· Medical centre, Police station, Garage for light car repairs.
· Tourist Police: Tel. 2427021111.
· Port Authority: Tel. 2427022017.
· Festivities: July 26th, feast of Agia Paraskevi, with folk dances.
· Rentals: Cars, mopeds, boats.
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| Skopelos
41 nautical miles from the town of Volos
The beauty of this island is apparent even as one approaches it by ship: picturesque large and small bays, golden sands, slopes covered with olive trees punctuated with pleasant little huts, churches and monasteries, dazzling white in the sun.
The chief town named after the island, Skopelos, climbs down daintily tier by tier in a semi - circle till it touches the shore - a beautiful vision in white. It is a seaport town with a local colour of itw own: cobbled narrow streets courtyards, filled with flowers, and gleaming rooftops in a fascinating variety of shapes. Many of the women, clinging faithfully to their island traditions, wear their local costume - a silk skirt embroidered with tiny flowers, a velvet short coat with wide flowing sleeves finely embroidered, and a gossamer - fine silk kerchief over their heads with justifiable pride. A visit to a Skopelos house is a pleasure in itself, not only for its interior decoration but also for the owner's hospitality.
Antiquities: Skopelos boasts a fair number of ancient ruins. Apparently, the island was a Cretan colony. Its first king and settler was Stafylos. His grave was discovered by the cove bearing his name in 1927. It contained weapons, a gold crown and funerary offerings, among other finds, all of which are housed in the Volos Museum. The 9th Century chapel of Agios Athanassios has been built on the ruins of an ancient temple. There are also the ruins of a venetian fortress, the Kastro, a vanage spot for a sweeping view all round.
Beaches and excursions: Skopelos has lovely beaches, shallow and safe waters ideal for children too; at Stafylos Cove, Limnonari - to which you cross by boat from Agnondas, at Panormos, a wind protected bay; at Milia and Elios; and at Loutraki, the Glossa port. For those who enjoy a shingly beach there are Agios Konstantinos, Sares, Kastri and Glisteri. Many of these beaches have pine trees reaching down to the sea. An also worth visiting place is the Tripiti grotto.
Monasteries and Churches: Though only a small island, Skopelos contains about 360 churches, chapels, monasteries and convents. The chief town alone has 123. The 12 white - washed convents, which dot the gentle hillsides date from the 17th and 18the centuries. Many of them contain real works of art: handcarved "reredos" (altar - screens), frescoes and icons. So do some of the monasteries and churches such as Christ Church, with its reredo of beautiful miniatures of saints and a gold - decorated chandelier from mount Athos. The church of Zooodohos Pigi is reputed to contain a miraculous icon painted by St. Luke the Evangelist.
Tourist facilities
· Police Station: Tel.: 2424022235.
· Port Authority: Tel.: 2424022180.
· Rentals: Cars, mopeds, boats.
· Local Products: Skopelos is famed for its prunes, while the Glossa region produces almonds. The nuns of the various convents produce loom - woven textiles, skirts and blouses and other fine articles.
· Popular Festival and Fairs: August 6th on Transfiguration Day and February 25th the feast day of the island's Patron Saint, Agios Riginos. Carnival with "Trata" procession.
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| Alonissos
62 nautical miles from Volos
An oblong island with a precipitous northwestern coastline, and a hilly landscape. The inhabitants work in the fields on the small but fertile plains, or else are shepherds and seamen. The centre of the island has submerged, leaving two small islets and several smaller ones still. A rock mass called Psathoura is all that remains of ancient Alonissos.
Exploring Alonissos: The sea round Alonissos has been declared as a "Marine conservation Park" where all human intervention is forbidden. The best way of getting about is by motor boats. These ply between the islands and the various beaches and excursion sites.
Beaches: Kokkinokastro, 30 min. by caique from Patitiri, the small port of Alonissos. Hrissi Milia, Steni Vala, Kalamakia, Agios Dimitrios offer excellent bathing. On some of the surrounding, virtually uninhabited isles there are isolated, good beaches but no amenities.
Antiquites: At Kokkinokastro can be seen the remains of the ancient city walls, pot shards, tombstones and graves. It is thought that this is the site of ancient Ikos. At Ai-Dimitris there are ruins of an unknown ancient city, and at Agios Petros there is a sunken byzantine ship (1200 A.D.).On the island of Gioura you will find Cyclop's Cave, decorated with varicoloured stalactites and stalagmites. Psathoura has remains of an ancient city, most of which lie submerged. The light-house on rocky Psathoura is one of the most powerful of the Aegean Sea.
Tourist facilities
Thanks to private initiative there are guest houses and rooms to rent as well as bungalows and small hotels. Other services include a medical centre, Customs, Police Station.
· Police Station: Tel.: 2424065205.
· Rentals: Mopeds, boats.
· Port Authority: Tel.: 2424065595.
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| Skyros
25 nautical miles from Kimi, in Euboea and 118 nautical miles from Piraeus. Are 208 sq. Kms.
The island's main port is Linaria. There are many lovely beaches and low mountains to explore, caves for some underwater fishing, and even ponies - the only ones in Greece. At the tavernas you can savour fresh fish, lobster and the local cheeses. The town of Skyros, also called "Horio" locally, clambers up a hill in a white half circle, like an ancient theatre. On its top stood an ancient acropolis, one of the best Bholds in the Aegean.
In Byzantine times it turned into a fortress. There are remains of Byzantine and chiefly Venetian fortifications to be seen today on the site. According to legend, it was on this ancient acropolis that Thetis hid her soon Achilles, where, dressed as a girl, he was brought up as one of King Lycomedes' daughters in order to escape the Trojan War. Theseus is also supposed to have met his death here. Under the castle there is the monastery of Saint George (Ai Giorgis Skirianos) founded in 962 and dominating the whole island. In Horio, there are two interesting museums: an archaeological as well as an historical and folkloric one. Every skyrian house down to the poorest, is a living museum of popular art, with beautiful handcarved furniture, embroideries, baskets and all kinds of handicrafts. Also of great interest is the original architecture of the houses, with their pebbled entrances, picturesque roofs, hearth and other impressive features. In the folk art shops you will be able to find beautifully hand-carved stools, embroidered articles, hand-woven materials, rugs, original clay and copper utensils, chests and furniture.
Beaches and excursions: Skyros can boast a lot of fine sandy beaches with excellent crystal clear waters. Having as a starting point the Xenia Hotel, you can go swimming to the very near Magazia Beach and Molos or wald further along the same shore as far as Girismata.The more distant beaches of Ahili, Aspous, Kalamitsa, Tris Boukes (where the grave of the English poet Ruppert Brook), Pefkos, Kyra Panagia, Atsitsa and Aherounes offer excellent bathing and can be reached by car. Especially in Atsitsa and Pefkos (which menas Pine) the deep green of the pine trees mingle with the blue waters.In most of these places you will find small tavernas by the sea offering fresh fish, local wine and some of the island's delicacies. In summer months cruises round the island with small boats are organised and it is very interesting to follow one of them and see the variety of the coast as well as attractive sea caves.
Tourist facilities
· Festivities: Carnival celebrations with folk dances in local costumes. Skyrian wedding.
· Public services: Medical centre, drugstores, filling stations, taxis, bank, Post Office, Telecommunications centre.
· Police station: Tel. 2222091274.
· Port Authority: Tel. 2222091475.
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| How to Reach the Islands
By Plane:
Information: El. Venizelos, tel.: 210 3530000.
By ferry boat:
Departing from:
· Agios Konstantinos (166th km on the Athens - Lamia highway), to Skiathos, Skopelos, Glossa (Skopelos) Alonissos.
Information: Tel.: 2235031920, 2235031989. Direct conection from Athens by bus.
Information: Tel.: 2104172415, 2103632575. Main offices of the Bus Company.
Information: Tel.: 2108317758.
· From Kimi to Skyros: Information: Tel.: 2222022020.
· From Kimi to Alonissos: (during Summer season only) Information: Tel.: 2222022825, 2222022601.
· From Volos to Skyros, Skopelos, Glossa (Skopelos) Alonissos, Information: Tel.: 2421038888.
By Hydrofoil craft (Flying Dolphins):
· From Ag. Konstantinos to Skiathos, Skopelos, Glossa (Skopelos), Alonissos. Information: Tel.: 2235031614, 2235031874.
· From Volos to Skiathos, Skopelos, Gloss (Skopelos), Alonissos, Skiros. Information: Tel.: 2421039786.
| Duration of Crossing
| To/From
| Ag. Konstantinos
| Kimi
| Volos
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| By Ferry
| By Hydrofoil
| By Ferry
| By Ferry
| By Hydrofoil
| SKIATHOS
| 3
| 1.25
| 3
| 1.20
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| GLOSSA (Skopelos)
| 3.30
| 1.40
| 3.30
| 1.35
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| SKOPELOS
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| 4.30
| 2.15
| 4.30
| 2.10
| ALONISSOS
| 5
| 2.35
| 3
| 5.30
| 2.30
| SKYROS
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| 2
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| 4.05
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