A brief history & guide to the must see monuments of Skiathos, Greece

Skiathos was given it’s name by it’s first inhabitants (the Pelasgians) as they were mesmerised by the great shadow or ‘Skia’ of the many trees upon the island. Dionysius was worshipped as the Patron god for many generations.

After the Pelasgians the island was inhabited by Cretans and Mycenaeans who also occupies the surrounding Sporades.

In the 7th and 6th century BCE, the inhabitants of Chalkis, Evia island, colonized Skiathos and created the first fortified town on the island. Because of the islands rich, fertile soil and strategic positioning many civilisations and neighbours attempted and succeeded invasions.

Photo by: Nick Karvounis @skiathos-greece on Unsplash

404BCE:

359 BCE:

341 BCE:

146 BCE:

88 BCE:

221 CE:

325 CE:

Byzantine period

600 CE:

1204 CE:

1583 CE:

1800s:

1900s:

After the Peloponnesian war Skiathos becomes fully autonomous for nearly 40 yearsSparta, tried many times to invade, but with the help of Athens, Skiathos remained independent.

Phillip || of Macedonia & Athens are at war. Skiathos is invaded by the Macedonians as a strategic position on Athens.

Democracy is returned to Skiathos after the assassination of Phillip ||

Rome takes Greece, allowing the Skiathians to live peacefully under their rule.

The king of Pontus burns Skiathos to the ground in his war against the Romans.

Skiathos falls back under Athenian rule.

Skiathos was taken back by the Romans. During this back and forth between rulers the island grows & prospers.

Christianity is introduced to Skiathos. The first church dedicated to the Holy Trinity was built in 530.

Mass development under the bishop of Lyrissa.

Saracen pirates ravage the Aegean massacring Skiathos inhabitants.

Crusaders took the territories of the Byzantine Empire as well as Skiathos which they gave to the Venetians, who built the famed Castle, Bourtzi.

Ottoman Empire dominates Skiathos.

Skiathos started to develop in shipbuilding. During the War of Independence the locals took part in many revolutionary actions against the Turks.

On September 14th 1943, the Nazi troops sank the Greek submarine Lambros Katsonis off the coasts of Skiathos and every year the Katsonia Festival (6th September) commemmorates this sad event. After the war, the economic and social life of Skiathos developed rapidly.

Known for it’s beautiful combination of Natural sights and cultural history Skiathos steps out of the normal Greek atmosphere that one would expect and adopts inspiration from the many cultures and people that have inhabited it through the Centuries

The Bourtzi Pennisula & fortress:

A tiny peninsula that divides the Skiathos port into two distinct parts. It used to be a fort, which was built by the Gizi brothers who ruled over Skiathos back in 1207. Bourtzi was bordered by impregnable walls and there were two towers located to the left and right of the main gate. Presently, it is not feasible to establish the height of the parapet from the ruins. Archaeologists are of the opinion that inside the fort there used to be a small church, the church of Agios Georgios, who was the guardian deity of the Venetians.

The Castle:

Skiathos Castle or simply Kastro is a medieval fortified site on the northern tip of the island of Skiathos in Greece, which was the main settlement of the island from the mid-14th century to 1829. It is now abandoned and a protected site

Old town Skiathos:

Skiathos Town is the heart of the island. All major events and activities take place here. You will find a large number of restaurants, bars, clubs, shops and other facilities, such as tourist offices and car rentals to make your stay as comfortable as possible.

Tsourgis Island:

Tsougria, Tsoungria, or Tsougkria is a Greek island in the western part of the Sporades. As of 2011, it had no resident population, as it is a protected natural habitat

Sea Caves at Lalaria:

Explore the Caves that open up to the sea at Lalaria on the North side of the Island.

Bourtzi Castle - photo by: Jonothan Reid

kelli Whitehead18 July 2018