Tour of Syros Island
Syros the capital of the prefecture of Cyclades is an elegant and beautiful island with numerous natural beauties, traditional villages, and wonderful beaches with crystal waters.
This cosmopolitan island, the Aegean’s Nymph as it is called has a big tourist development and is the ideal travel destination for short or long vacation.
It offers various options for accommodation, entertainment and touring.
There are numerous hotels and rooms to let in the capital and in the other tourist resorts, of all categories providing all comforts.
You will find also excellent restaurants, taverns where you will taste the delicious local recipes, coffee shops, bars and clubs with live music, cinema and theater.
ERMOUPOLIS SYROS
The genteel town of ERMOUPOLIS is both capital and harbor of the island of Syros and of the Cyclades prefecture. It hosts many public services and administrative offices of the Greek Government.
The city is built amphitheatrically on the hill with view to Aegean Sea.
The Port’s Lighthouse is right across the entrance of the central port, in the islet of Gaidouronisi, built in 1834.
It has a height of 30 meters and it was the first lighthouse with a revolving machine in Aegean Sea.
The capital has a variety of different types of architecture, with vernacular houses alongside neoclassical buildings, which centre on the neighborhood of Vaporia, the neoclassical district of the town.
Of particular interest amongst them are: the Town Hall, an imposing building in Miaouli square, the “Hellas Club”, now a cultural center and municipal library, the municipal Apollo Theater, a small copy of the Scala of Milan, the building of the First Hospital built in 1823 that distinguishes for its special architecture and others.
The Archaeological Museum in the town, housed in a wing of the Town Hall, contains finds from a variety of different periods.
In the neighborhood of Vaporia is the church of Agios Nikolaos Plousios (St. Nicholas the Rich), which has an impressive campanile and marble decoration.
Ermoupolis, apart from her beauty and her rich history, distinguishes for its cosmopolitan life.
The Casino is a pole of attraction for many visitors.
In the city you will find various shops, clubs, bars, and a theater. Shops with traditional products and souvenirs are along the coastline.
ANO SYROS
ANO SYROS, the fortified medieval city, was built by the Venetians on the conical hill above the harbor.
The view from the hill of Ano Syros is magnificent.
It is worth climbing the 1000 stairs leading to the top of the hill.
On the top of the hill is the Catholic Cathedral of Saint George.
Next to the church lies the Historic Archive of the Catholic Episcopate.
The only orthodox Christian churches in Ano Syros are of the Holy Triad and of Saint Nicolas “of the poor”.
Other places worth seeing is the Old French Hospital, the exhibition of traditional professions, the exhibition of historic archives and the Folk Art Museum of Ano Syros.
The houses in the medieval settlement are built touching each other, their structure was made particularly strong, and they have few doors and windows, giving them the appearance of a fortress.
Ano Syros is the birthplace of the Greek famous composer Markos Vamvakaris.
His house is turned into a museum, where one can see a lot of his personal items.
In Ano Syros you can find many taverns, shops, small cafes and bars.
Tour of Syros Island
On the south coast of the island, there are some fine settlements:
AZOLIMNOS is a graphic settlement that has evolved to a popular tourist resort.
There are several hotels, apartments and rooms to let of all categories.
Its golden beach is one of the most famous on the island.
VARI is one of the biggest villages of Syros.
In Vari were discovered the remains of a prehistoric settlement and graves from the roman period.
You can swim at the homonym beach and in the close beaches of Achladi, Fabrica, and Megas Gialos.
In the region you will find a lot of hotels, rooms to let, taverns, bars and clubs with all kinds of music.
Megas Gialos is another popular tourist resort with a magic beach with an endless golden shore and blue green shallow waters ideal for swimming and water sports. In the region there are new built hotels and rooms to let.
In the interior to the south of the capital, are the beautiful verdant villages of Episkopio, Talanta, Mesaria, Pagos, Mana, Ano Mana, Agros, Parakopi, Visa, Chroussa, etc.
Tour of Syros Island
GALISSAS
A road traverses the island from east to west, ending at the sheltered bay of GALISSAS on the west coast.
It is the most cosmopolitan summer resort of Syros which distinguishes for its excellent tourist infrastructure.
The magic beach of the settlement with crystal clear waters is considered the most famous of the island.
In the region there are hotels and rooms to let of all categories, restaurants and taverns where you can taste traditional local recipes, coffee shops, bars and clubs with live music.
It is worth going up the hill of Agias Pakou to admire the remains of a small castle that was used as an observatory and the remains of the ancient acropolis.
The view from there is breath taking.
The imposing cave of Saint Stefanos with the white little church and the running water, Armeos, Glarontas and Saint Mamas, contribute to forming a magic landscape.
FINIKAS – POSEIDONIA
The sea side village of FINIKAS is 2,5 kilometers to the south of this, and further south still, the enchanting village and the most cosmopolitan summer resort from the 19th century POSEIDONIA (or Delagrazia) with its beautiful neoclassical villas, superb gardens and enchanting sea with crystal blue waters. Delagrazia is the most aristocratic neighborhood of Syros. Here you will find numerous hotels, apartments and rooms to let providing all comforts.
On the west coast are to be found the fine beaches of Grammata, Aetos, Delfini, Kini and Angathopes with blond shore and shallow crystal waters.
Right across are the two uninhabited islands, Strogilo and Schinonisi.
KINI
Kini is one of the most picturesque and quiet fish villages of Syros, ideal for family vacations.
You can swim in the homonym beach and in the close beaches of Varvarousa and Loto.
In Kini you will find hotels, rooms to let, and traditional fish taverns where you can enjoy fresh fish and seafood.
In the village hill there is the church of the Assumption of the Virgin which is celebrated on 15th August.
TRADITION – EVENTS
Ermoupolia is the most famous cultural event on Syros.
It is celebrated every year and it is the most important point of attraction for the inhabitants and the visitors.
It consists of dancing, music events and many other activities.
In many villages of the islands many cultural events are organized every year.
Ano Syros is famous for its carnival.
LOCAL PRODUCTS – CUISINE
The most famous local recipe of Syros is meat with potatoes baked in the oven with woods.
It is also worth trying the well known sweets loukoumia, nougats and halvadopita, the kopanisti and gruyere cheeses.