History of Skyros

Skyros has been inhabited since the late Paleolithic period. The first inhabitants were the Kares, the Pelasgians and Dolopes. Later came the Cretans, then the Athenians (468 BC). Skyros has close kinship with the Trojan War and the death of Theseus. According to a legend, Theseus would have been pushed down on the rocks by King Likomides when he sought shelter here.

If you are in Skyros you should definitely climb the rock hill, the view down is breathtaking. When in 468 BC the Athenian General Kimon occupied the island he discovered the tomb of Theseus. He took the bones of Theseus and brought them to Athens (The Theseon). According to another legend, the goddess Thetis would have disguised her son Achilles in the gardens of Likomedes by dressing him as a girl. Then he would not be recognised amongst the daughters of Likomedes and would not be found, so he could escape the Trojan War. Thetis knew that her son would die.Still he was discovered by Odysseus who took him.

The fleet of Achilles left from the Bay of Aspous heading to Troy. During the Byzantine period, the island fell into disrepair and was merely used as a place of exile. Skyros was also a place where pirates took shelter. Later, the island came into the hands of the Venetians, and later to the Turks until the early 20th century when again it fell into the hands of the Greeks.

Sights and tips on Skyros

• The 13th century fortress / castle in Skyros town
• The Monastery of Agios Georgios (originally founded by the Byzantine Emperor Nikiforos Fokas) near the castle.
• The Rupert Brooke Square: Rupert Brooke was a famous English poet who died on Skyros.
• The church of Agios Nikolaos in Pouria.
• The prehistoric settlement of Palamari.
• The Archaeological Museum of Skyros
• The Faltaits folk museum
• The harbour Linaria (11 km from Skyros City)
• Mount Kochila
• Atsitsa: a beautiful green area with many harbours and bays
• The islet Sarakiniko and the beautiful beach of Glyfada
• Treis Boukes: a bay at the entrance two small islands in the south of Skyros.

Beaches Skyros

• Magazia / Molos is one of the busiest beaches of Skyros (water sports possible here including windsurfing)
• Gyrismata is the most popular beach of Skyros.
• Agios Petros Beach in the north of the island.
• The beach of Papa tou Chouma near the village of Molos (nude beach)
• Palamari
• Theotokos
• Petritsa
• Pefkos
• Achili
• Kolimbada
• Kalamitsa
• Kyra Panagia

Cultural traditions

• Carnival Celebration of Skyros in Greece is very famous. Each year, thousands of people from all over Greece visit Syros to celebrate. The Carnival festivities are marked by dressing up as an old man (Geros) or men dressing as a girl (Korela). According to legend, Achilles also dressed as a girl and has been hiding here, just before the outbreak of the Trojan War.
• On Clean Monday (the beginning of Lent) almost all residents wear traditional costumes and meet in the center of Skyros town to celebrate this day.
• The feast of Agios Ermolaos (on July 25)
• The feast of Agios Panteleimon on July 27
• The feast of Agios Mamas on September 2
• The feast of Panagia Limbiani on September 8

How to reach Skyros?

There is an airport serving domestic flights. Skyros is also connected by ferry with the ports of Kymi (Euboea), Alonissos, Skiathos, Skopelos and Volos.

Text: Jorgos and Wendy Nikolidakis - Text edited by Maxine van Hoften