Sifnos Geographical & Historical Outline
Sifnos lies to the south of Serifos island and it is 79 nautical miles from Piraeus port.
It has an area of 74 square kilometers and a shoreline of 70 kilometers.
The island has a steep coastline, in the north and small, sheltered bays in the south. Amongst its hills are fertile valleys with olives, vines and fruit.
Its highest peak is Prophet Elias with an altitude of 650 meters.
Sifnos Geographical & Historical Outline
The earliest inhabitants on the island are thought to have been Karians and Phoenicians, who discovered its gold and silver mines.
They gave the island the names Akis, Merope, Sifanos and Sifana.
It was later captured by the Cretans, who founded a city called Minoa here.
Later, it was colonized by the Ionians under their leader Sifnos.
The island prospered in historical times, owing to its rich mines, but it fell into decline during the 5th c. BC.
In 1207, the Venetian Marco Sanudo conquered the island and it was incorporated into the Duchy of Naxos.
In 1537 it felt into the hands of the Turks.
The island took part in the struggle for liberty in 1821 and was united with Greece in 1832.
