Skyros is the southernmost island of the Northern Sporades and is characterized by striking contrasts. It features pine-covered hills, rocky mountainous landscapes, idyllic secluded shores, beautiful coves, extensive beaches, sea caves, and a Natura area in the southern part, forming a natural and diverse landscape.
With a long history, Skyros has always been a place that preserves its tradition and authenticity. Visitors to the island will admire the local architecture, intricate wood carvings, embroidery, and ceramics of Byzantine thematic origin.
The role played by the Evia Chamber of Commerce and the Municipality of Skyros is pivotal in promoting the destination through familiarization trips aimed at multi-dimensional promotion of the island.
In the main town of Skyros, excellent hospitality infrastructures exist, such as the Nepheli Hotel, a gem that combines eco-friendly materials with impeccable hospitality, quality services, and discreet luxury.
The island is especially known for the Skyrian horse, found nowhere else in the world and depicted on the Parthenon’s metope. The small-sized Skyrian horses are a rare ancient breed, one of the few remaining worldwide.
Mouries Estate
The Mouries Estate of Emmanouil Trachanas has been working since 1995 to preserve the Skyrian horse and currently houses 65 horses, representing a quarter of the population found on Skyros and the largest population worldwide.
The island’s history is closely intertwined with the importance of the Skyrian horse, which the local community honors during the Skyrian Horse Festival held in June.
Stamatis Nikolaou Winery
Founded in 2014 on Skyros, the winery aims to showcase the island’s vineyards on a small scale. The varieties include indigenous and foreign grapes (Malagouzia, Roditis, Assyrtiko, Sauvignon Blanc, Grenache Rouge, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Merlot), under the label LAL.
Villages and Beaches Tour
It is important to explore shops and so on. The tour continued to Magazia, Molos, Trachys (where Skyros Airport is located), Aspo, Achilli, Atsiitsa, and the main port, Linaria, a small picturesque village situated on the southwestern coast.
The combination of mountain and sea allows for many sports such as hiking along eight marked trails and beautiful natural paths, climbing, bird watching, and more.
Manos and Anastasia Faltaits Folklore Museum
This folklore museum is one of the first local-historical folklore museums in Greece, rich with traditional culture and Skyros’ history. Founded in 1964, its aim is to preserve the Skyrian heritage locally and nationally.
Throughout the island, there are about 400 chapels, all in beautiful locations and many protected Byzantine monuments. The Monastery of Saint George stands proud over the centuries, perched atop a rock filled with memories and information about Skyros and its life.
Getting Acquainted with Skyros’ Local Products and Gastronomy
Skyros’ agricultural products are distinct, primarily because traditional production methods are still widely used. Cheeses, wild goat meat, honey, herbs, fish, and seafood comprise the ingredients of Skyrian cuisine, impressing every potential visitor with their quality.
Skyros’ culinary identity is especially linked to the renowned lobster pasta served authentically at Stelios’ fish tavern in Gyrismata, Skyros.
The island is also famous for its exquisite Skyrian almond sweets, with Chios Pastry Shop leading in their preparation.
Skyrian Carnival
One should consider visiting Skyros during the Skyrian Carnival, one of the most popular traditional carnivals in Greece. It essentially begins with locals dressing up as “Yeroi,” “Koreles,” and “Frangos.” The recited verses contain satire, and the festival culminates on Clean Monday with celebrations.
The Carnival expresses a Dionysian atmosphere. Streets fill with masked men wearing cowbells, crossing through the market. The so-called “Yeroi” wear long black hairy cloaks and goat skin masks. Around their waists, they carry numerous bells (like those used for sheep), often up to 40.
The highlight of the Skyrian carnival is the “trata” custom, on the last Sunday of Lent, when the “trata” is placed in the square and locals dressed as sailors satirize current affairs through verses.
Nikolaos-Andreas Moros
Vice President of Evia Chamber of Commerce
Mr. Nikolaos-Andreas Moros, Vice President of the Evia Chamber of Commerce, referring to promotional actions for the destination, emphasized that “The Evia Chamber has placed great emphasis on the region’s tourism product, aiming to enhance and promote it through a wide and substantive array of actions.”
The Vice President underscores that “the Evia Chamber, aiming to achieve the deserved outreach and recognition for the region, has an immediate partner: a professional exclusively engaged in developing the entire region’s tourism product.”
He continues, “We have particularly focused on promoting local products and gastronomy, showcasing and highlighting all destinations, as well as conducting thematic alternative tourism events because the facets the region can unfold in this tourism segment are extremely dynamic.
At the same time, we are very pleased to have achieved cooperation and partnerships with all stakeholders, aiming for a holistic approach to promote the destination’s tourism brand and to provide substantive support and visibility to the business sphere. After all, a destination is its people.”
Regarding Skyros’ prospects as a destination, Mr. Moros stated that “It is a destination that truly has no ‘ceiling,’ as it offers great opportunities for development and investment.”
He added that Skyros has also embraced the green transition, with its entire port built upon a sustainable philosophy, and many hotels are developing sustainable hotel agriculture.
Finally, the Vice President of the Chamber notes that “we are dealing with an extremely autonomous place, rich in tradition, history, and folklore, with alternative tourism developing dynamically as it is already a notable hiking destination, has developed cycling routes through the forest, and already hosts the 4th international Evia Island Regatta, with sailing taking center stage.”