Skopelos Geographical & Historical Outline
Skopelos lies to the east of Skiathos, from which it is separated by the Skopelos channel, about 8 kilometers wide.
The island has an area of 96 square kilometers and 67 kilometers of coastline.
Its terrain is mountainous and the highest peak is Deplhi (680 meters).
The largest part of the island is covered by thick pine woods, and fruit trees, olives, vines etc. are grown in the remaining area.
The prunes of Skopelos are excellent.
They are dried in picturesque ovens and exported.
Skopelos Geographical & Historical Outline
In ancient times it was called Peparethos.
The earliest inhabitants were Cretans who came from Knossos under their leader Stafylos, son of Ariadne.
Skopelos was a member of the Athenian Confederacy and was later conquered by the Macedonians.
In 340 BC, the inhabitants of the island drove out the Macedonian garrison that had been established on the neighboring island of Alonissos.
Phillip II then ordered his men to devastate Skopelos and destroy the three cities of Panormos, Selinous and Pepearethos.
It was named Skopelos in the Hellenistic period.
During Byzantine times it was used as a place of exile.
Under the Franks it belonged to the Gizi family.
It was plundered by Barabarossa in 1538 and became subject to the Turks.
In 1830 it was annexed to the Greek state after its people had participated in the Greek War of Independence of 1821 with their fleet.