Skiathos

Skiathos is the most popular and touristy Greek island in the Sporades. With the island covered by a thick pine forest and boasting some of the best beaches in Greece, plus its own airport, it is not surprising that it lacks some of that famous “Greek atmosphere”, but if it’s a beach holiday you are looking for, there are few Greek islands that can match the quality and quantity of the beaches on Skiathos.

Skiathos town located in a wind protected bay on the south eastern tip of the island, is the only town on the Island. Built in the mid 1800's on top of an original settlement dating back to 800 B.C.

The small peninsula of Bourtzi that splits the town port into two, is linked to the town by a short narrow causeway. Once the site of a fort, it is nowadays a recreation area. There is a small cafe for refreshments, and it is the venue for a number of special events and concerts throughout the year.

Houses in Skiathos town are small and simple, mostly built on two floors, amphitheatrically one next to the other. The streets are narrow and winding without the benefit of any organised planning. The main shopping street is named Papadiamandis street after its famous son, writer Alexandros Papadiamandis 1851-1911 whose home is now a museum.

Skiathos town boasts an exuberant nightlife with many tavernas, music bars, and a number of night clubs, that party on until the early hours of the morning. If you would prefer to spend you evenings a little quieter, then you will not be disappointed as there are still many tavernas where you can spend your whole evening over a quiet meal.

Troulos, located along the main road that runs between Skiathos Town and koukounaries, is a holiday village made up of hotels, apartment blocks and ample bars and tavernas to make your stay enjoyable. The beach, that sits within a small cove, like many of the beaches on Skiathos, is simply superb. Troulos is named after the small nearby islet of Troulonissia. Busses run along the full route from Skiathos Town to koukounaries and back,at regular intervals, stopping at all the main resorts along the way.

The beach at Koukounaries, also known as Chrisi Ammos or Golden Sand, due to its extremely fine sand, is located on the south western tip of Skiathos. Sheltered in a horseshoe shaped cove, It is considered to be one of the best beaches in Greece. Koukounaries offers visitors deep blue, crystal clear waters, backed with shade from the trees behind. Tucked away behind the beach is the Strofylia lagoon, which, with the surrounding forest, is a protected nature reserve. Close by, but not too close, and set back on the road that stretches along the back of the beach, are a good number of holiday apartment blocks, hotels, tavernas and bars. As would be expected on such a large and popular beach, water sports are readily available.

The main road ends at Koukounaries, but if you continuing on along the small road that branches off to the right, you will reach a sandy cove known as Banana beach. This lovely beach once had the reputation as being the islands naturist beach, but those looking for an all over tan may be a little disappointed as this is no longer the case, but carry on along the pathway that runs behind the beach and you come to another fine beach that is often referred to as Little Banana. This has become the most established beach on Skiathos where you can sunbathe nude.

History

Unlike the vast majority of other Greek islands, Skiathos, since the pre-Hellenic period, has always been known by the same name, which is believed to have originated from its first inhabitants, the Pelasgians, it is said, they were impressed by the great shadow or skia in Greek, of the trees covering the island.
Dionysus was worshipped on the island and his cult name was Skianthos. After the Pelasgians, the island was inhabited by Cretans and then, like the other islands in the Sporades, by the Mycenaeans. The island attracted many invaders including inhabitants from what is now Evia, who started cultivating Vines and olives on the island. During the Persian Wars, Skiathos the harbour was used as a base for the Athenian fleet. In 404 B.C. after the Peloponnesian War, Skiathos became independent. The Spartians made an attenpt to occupy the island but Skiathians, with the aid of the Athenians, managed to repel them. After many prosperous years, the Athenians used the island as a a military base for their war against Philip II of Macedonia. The Macedonians were triumphant and democracy did not return to the island until 341 B.C. After the death of Alexander the Great, a succession of leaders followed. In 197 B.C. Skiathos regained its democracy. When the Romans came to Greece 146 B.C. the Skiathians ceded some of their liberties but on the whole lived peacefully. In 88 B.C. Mithriades VI, the king of Pontus, destroyed Skiathos in his war against the Romans. In 42 B.C. Skiathos again came under Athenian domination. After 221 A.D. Skiathos reverted back to authority from Roman . In 325 A.D. Christianity first appeared on Skiathos and in 530 a church dedicated to the Holy Trinity was built. During the Byzantine period, Skiathos was part of the province of Thessaly. In 1204, Crusaders took the Aegean from the Byzantine Empire and gave the island to the Venetians. Skiathos was ruled by the Ghisi brothers, who built a castle on Skiathos on the site now known as the Bourtzi. The Ghisi's remained as rulers until 1276, when other Venetians took the Island which stayed under their control until the fall of Constantinople in 1453, although Venetians were left in control of the island to avoid Turkish domination, which they did until 1538, when the Turkish pirate Barbarossa captured Skiathos bringing it under control of the Ottoman empire. In the 19th century, ship building began to develop and in the War of Independence Skiathians took part in action against the Turks. After the revolution, the ancient town of Kastro was abandoned and Skiathians moved to the port area. During World War II Skiathos town was badly damaged by bombs. On August 23rd 1944 the Germans burnt the town and seven young Skiathians were executed. Since the war, the islands economy has prospered through the rapid growth of the tourist industry.