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The emotive combination of the wild rocks, the blue color of the sea, the snow-white houses with the traditional earthen chimneys, the dry stone walls, the blue vaults of the churches, the dispersed monasteries, the endless paths, the wonderful beaches!
The point of the West Cyclades where the enchantment of Aegean Sea meets the tradition. The island that has kept its authenticity invariable in time. The hospitable place where you will feel the traditional Greek spirit in every single spot. The place where the uniqueness of the scenery, the elation of the senses and the Cycladic architecture meet in a background of a captivating sunset in Aegean Sea!
Apollonia has been its capital since 1836. It is amphitheatrically built on three hills in the middle of the island while in the west on can see its picturesque port, Kamares.
During its exploration you will meet places such as the distinguished village of Artemona, Ano and Kato Petali facing each other, wonderful Exambela and Katavati, the seductive of Vathi, captivating Chrissopigi, wonderful Faros, cosmopolitan Platis Gialos, picturesque Chersonissos, and traditional Kastro, where the traditional way of living and the simplicity of live go far beyond anything you could imagine. What will fill you with enthusiasm is the arrangement of the mansions and the simple houses, with the paved yards and arches. With the invariable beauty in all over the island.
Sifnos used to be one of the most prosperous islands in Cyclades, during ancient times. It was first inhabited by Kares and Finikes, and was called Akis and Meropi. The first habitants gave their place to people from Crete and to colonist from Ionia, in about 1000 B.C., with their leader called Sifnos after whom the island took its name. As Herodotus mentions, Sifnos was a wealthy island thanks to its mines in gold and silver. The natives acquired so much wealth that they founded in Delphi the well known "Treasure of Sifnos" in the 6th century B.C., one of the most attractive of the ancient temple. However the rich deposits did not last for long. They were either used up or engulfed, something which resulted in recession for the island in the 5th century B.C. During the Persian war they fought with the Athenians and after the end of war the island became member of the Athenian Alliance. Afterwards, it came to Macedonians, Ptolemies and finally to the Romans. Several raids followed that tortured the habitants during the Byzantine Age. At that time the island belonged to Aegean. In 1207 Venetians settled and later, in 1617, gave their place to Turks who had the island in their domination until the beginning of the 19th century, except of the period of the Russian occupation (1770 - 1774). The people of Sifnos took part in the Greek Revolution in 1821 and were given their freedom along with the rest of the Cycladians.
The entire island of Sifnos is an archeological monument, since it has been inhabited since the Neolithic Age. Somewhere between Apollonia and Vathi, stand the hill of Saint Andrea with the homonymous church built at top. The church was built in 1701 and it is one of the most important archeological sites in Sifnos. The archeological findings reveal the continuous inhabitancy from the Mycenaean to the Hellenistic era. The excavations brought to light a big part of the Mycenaean wall of the 12th century B.C. and the ruins of five buildings. The archeological site is open for the tourists daily until the sunset. There are also fifty five ancient castles, dispersed in all over the island. All castles are round and were built built between the 6th and 3rd century B.C. This is proved both by the fragments of ancient vessels, which were found in the place of the castles, and by the size and the type of their building. Most of them are hardly discernible. The castles were built after the raid of Samians (524 B.C.) and their purpose was to send signals to the ancient citadels. Later, the net developed and the system of exchanging signals was spread in all over the island. As mentioned by Thucydides, the way of communication must have been fire and smoke. More recently, the castles were used as protective structures for the women and children, while the most tenacious were used in order to repel the pirates. Until today, on can find the well preserved White Tower along the road to Platis Gialos, as well the Tower of Katavati (400 B.C.) which is at the "Kade" position towards Vathi. There are three museums in Sifnos. The Archaeological museum in Kastro, which exhibits collections of archaic and Hellenistic sculptures, the Ecclesiastical Art museum in Moni of Vrissiani in Eksabela, where among other displays we can find copies of ancient publications, a gospel of 1796, reliquaries, cherubim, ornaments, canonicals, icons etc. and finally the Folklore Art museum at the Heroes Square in Apollonia which contains displays related to the traditional life of the island.
The courtliness that prevails in Sifnos is a result of the great cultural an mental tradition of the island that made known eminent poets, writers, folklorists, educators, journalists and jurisprudents.
Being Niko's Tselemente birth place, an expert in modern cooking, the island has unique tastes that make in stand out! Its cuisine is delicious containing traditional kinds of cheese, such as manura and sour skim-milk cheese, dishes such as chickpea croquettes, the traditional revithada on Sunday, the caper salad, the roast meat cooked in an earth made household utensil called mastelo etc. One of its secret? Cooking in earth made utensils that ceramists from Sifnos have made! As for their pastry, it is enough to have a walk among the traditional bakeries and taste home made sweets and cookies, such as macaroons, honey pie, patties, pasteli, sugar buns, marsh mallows, bread rolls etc.
The island is well known not only thanks to its natural beauty but also because it was the stronghold of the evolution and spread of the dateless art of the throwing wheel in pottery, not only in Greece bur also in the wider4 are of the Mediterranean sea! Here the tradition of pottery is still alive thanks to the craftsmen who work as they used to do a century ago and there are plenty of picturesque pottery workshops which one can visit and be enchanted by the traditional way of making.
Sifnos is the ideal island for walking. Plenty are the paths that await the excursionists! Many of these lead to breathtaking firths which could otherwise be accessible only by caique or private craft, and to wonderful hermitages for the enthusiasts of adventure or for those who want to explore the island inch by inch.
Loyal to its religious tradition, the island keeps its customs alive; the custom of the local carols, the carnival balls etc. At least once a year, traditional festivities with mutual meals, which remind us of New Year's Cay love feasts and ancient "dining", take place in most of its country churches and monasteries. During these festivities, and when the Vespers finishes, the worshippers gather in the "tables" and eat the marvelous revithada of Sifnos, olives, meat with potatoes or spaghetti, and during the fast they eat codfish. The wine flows abundantly! During the meal, those who are present at the feast make sounds with their spoons which are followed by a wish for the person who organized the festivity. And revelry goes on like that until the morning, full of dancing, singing and reciting of poems which intend to thank the organizer of the festivity for his offer and are sometimes created at that moment! There is no month, winter and summer alike, at least one of its 360 country churches or monasteries doesn't celebrate. Don't miss the chance to visit them! Ask the local people if there is a festivity during your stay in the island. You will have a unique experience!
At night Sifnos reveals its other face, that of entertainment! There are restaurants, traditional taverns, fish taverns, confectioneries, cafeterias, traditional coffee houses and bars in almost every built-up area, while the streets of Apollonia there are bars and night clubs with Greek and foreign music where fun lasts until the morning hours. One can also find gift shops, pottery art shops and jewelry workshops for you shopping after midnight!
During summer the island is every day coastally connected with Piraeus and with the islands that belong to the shipping line of Milos, as well with Paros by high speed and conventional boats. The trip lasts for about 3-5 hours depends on the type of boat you choose. It is also coastally connected with many islands of Cyclades as well as with Crete via Milos. For the rest of the year, the frequency of the itineraries depends on the season.
Sifnos is ready to offer you unforgettable moments, not only in summer but also in spring with its unique Easter customs, and in autumn with its numerous feasts and make you feel like home in this marvelous place.
Leaving the island one thing is certain:
"Sifnos will charm you!
And as a siren will call you back again and again, always near to her" !
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