Skopelos island is also part of the Northern Sporades Archipelago right in the middle of Skiathos island and Alonissos island. Skopelos which means rocky, rock in Greek has been decreed as the most beautiful of its archipelago as well as being among the five most enchanting in Greece. A perfect mix of its sisters that offers a rich and varied territory. It covers over 90 square kilometers and its environment ranges from mountains covered in fairy-tale forests and pine forests to deep, fertile valleys of vineyards and orchards. Its highest peaks are those of Mount Delphi in the center and the Palouki massif to the south-east while its coasts are jagged with numerous inlets and small promotors. According to Greek mythology, Skopelos was the home of Stafylos, son of the God Dionysus and Ariadne who landed there, fell in love with it and decided to live right here. Confirming this legend is a tomb located in the area of the same name, considered the resting place of the king. History of Skopelos Its ancient name was Pepartihos, the name of the brother of the island's first mythological settler, Stafylos. It was inhabited since the Mycenaean era with three important cities. The finds here are still visible today where the Kastro and temples dedicated to Dionysus and Athena were built. At the end of the Peloponnesian War it fell under the occupation of Sparta and then passed into the hands of the Athenians who lost it during the conflicts with King Philip II of Macedonia. Then came the Romans who brought Christianity. Between the 7th and 9th centuries the Byzantines arrived while the following century fell under the dominion of Thessaly. In 1207, after the occupation of Constantinople, it passed under the Venetians governed by the Gizi brothers who granted privileges of autonomy to the island and then returned under the Byzantines and had a period of anarchy. In recent years there have been many pirate incursions, forcing a large part of the population to emigrate to the island of Euboea. In 1333 Pasha Ormour invaded the Sporades, sacking and besieging them. Two hundred years later the pirate Barbarossa, head of the Turkish fleet, destroyed Skopelos, remaining uninhabited for a long time. In 1600 it repopulated and prospered with the production of wine, becoming famous throughout the Aegean thanks to its nectar until 1830 when it became part of the new Greek state. You choose a holiday in Skopelos for its abundant and luxuriant nature, for its beaches, for its relaxed atmosphere where you can spend days in total tranquility, for its archaeological sites and to see the legendary church where the scene of the film was filmed “Mamma mia” which gave her further notoriety. Don't miss the bay of Stafilo to the south west in the small rounded peninsula where the tomb of King Stafilo is located in which the large golden sword, bracelets and a crystal pendant were found which today are preserved in the Archaeological Museum of Volos . An area of astonishing colours, a clear and intense blue sea, rocks with pink veins, and pine trees that reach up to the sea climbing the rocks. The capital Skopelos Town, with its horseshoe shape on low hills, is a succession of white houses with red roofs and wooden balconies adorned with colorful bougainvillea, a true postcard typical of Greece. Its labyrinthine and traffic-free streets at every corner will give you views that will leave you speechless. The typical taverns under terraces covered with vines with a view of the sea are wonderful, as are shops of all kinds and little places where you can hang out late, all in a relaxed atmosphere. Go and visit the remains of the 13th century Venetian castle right on the top, the view is stunning, or enter the soul of Skopelos with the Folklore Museum or the church on the port of Eisodia tis Theotokou. If you like trekking then its rolling mountains will be perfect! There are many paths to follow through uncontaminated and generous nature among fragrant almond trees and ancient monasteries. You can do it yourself if you are an expert or rely on one of the many tourist agencies that deal with excursions. In Skopelos you should know that there are almost four hundred churches and legend has it that one was built for each icon that arrived from the sea during the catastrophe in Asia Minor in 1921 when the Greek Turkish population threw them into the water to save them. Someone or something wanted them to reach the shores of Skopelos and be recovered by its inhabitants. Another beautiful village to include among the things to see in Skopelos is the village of Glossa. Second largest in the northwest. With its port it is a traditional location where time almost seems to have stopped. The most used means of transport is still the donkey. Its position offers a truly suggestive panorama. But the most visited place is undoubtedly Agios Ioannis famous for the wedding scenes in the film Mamma Mia. A huge monolith that seems to magically emerge from the sea where on the top there is this wonderful little church which requires a bit of a trek to reach it but the reward is proportional. Finally, the beaches are different from each other but have one thing in common, a spectacular sea where you can relax and recharge your batteries. An island waiting to be discovered, forgetting the time where peace and harmony reign supreme, what more could you ask for?