Sikinos Island Ios

The Sikinos island or also called Sicandro in Italian, we find it in the wonderful Cyclades Islands between the Ios island and the Folegandros Island. An almost unknown part of Greece, with a barren landscape but with an extremely authentic flavor.

Barely fifty square kilometers in size, the Sikinos Island is perfect for those looking for a holiday in Greece based on tranquility, peace and exploration. Asleep in the winter months like a perfect Cinderella, she wakes up as soon as the warm Hellenic sun begins to kiss the Greek Islands, thus becoming a somewhat niche destination as reaching it is sometimes a bit challenging. Its population has only 260 permanent inhabitants throughout the year and has only three important centers, the port Alopronia, the Chora and Kastro. The rest nature in its original state with many small and characteristic churches (there are about sixty of them on the whole island).

A real Greek island like those seen in old films where time passes slowly and with its spontaneous running of the clock, where you will never find crowds of tourists but only silence and a truly barren and fascinating environment. Here it is still possible to have pleasant chats with the locals who will tell you stories to leave you enchanted and that will make your imagination gallop like in a book by Emilio Salgari.

According to Greek mythology, it takes its name from Sikinos son of Thoanta King of Lemnos. When the women of Lemnos killed all the male inhabitants in revenge against their husbands who abandoned them for the Thracian women, Bacchus and Ariadne who lived in Naxos decided to save Sikinos by hiding him inside a wooden urn by throwing her into the sea. The urn wandered around the Aegean stopping on the shores of the island of Sikinos where the fishermen picked it up and rescued the baby. Other more concrete sources say that it took its name from the large quantity of figs (in Greek Siko) that were present on the island. The name Oinoi was also used which in ancient Greek means wines for the many vineyards that once existed in the area.

The first inhabitants of Sikinos were the Mycenaeans followed in turn by the Dorians and the Ionians. In the fifth century BC it was under the Athenian dominion and then it was ceded to the Macedonians. Even the Venetians in their great expansion stopped in Sikinos and in 1207 it became part of the Duchy of Naxos under the power of Marco Sanudo. Finally, as in all of Greece, the Turkish usurper arrived who dominated it from 1531 until 1821.

The Sikinos Island is mainly frequented by lovers of trekking and walking as, given its small size, it lends itself very well to exploration on foot which is always the best way to admire views and discover hidden corners among churches of the Byzantine era, windmills and ancient villages. You have the opportunity to choose between many well-marked routes that mainly start from the Chora and with distances ranging from one kilometer up to fifteen so suitable for anyone. You can find the map with all the various stops at the port in the ticket office.

Everything develops around Alopronia and the Chora, here there is a bit of life for the rest only desert areas with a view of the Aegean to make anyone pale. Let's start with Alopronia practically the port where we arrive at Sikinos, the most touristic center of the whole island. Here you will find some accommodation, a few taverns, a supermarket and three renters.

Continuing on you arrive at the Chora perched high in the mountains about three kilometers from the port. The classic nativity style village with narrow mazes between white stone houses with typical Greek style with blue windows all perfectly ordered and immaculate. A couple of restaurants, two shops and a few bars where you can stop for a coffee or a cool drink. In reality the Chora is made up of two settlements, one is precisely Chora or Horio, the other is Kastro.

Kastro is a settlement built on the edge of the fortified hill and dating from the 15th century. A part is still inhabited and you can find really special taverns to taste the local delicacies and Greek cuisine. The abandoned area, on the other hand, is wild and unspoiled with the ancient castle and Byzantine churches. From the fortress you can still see the holes where the inhabitants threw the boiling oil to discourage the marauders.

The monastery of Zoodochos Pigi just above the Chora which can be reached by a nice walk from the stairs that start from Kastro if desired. The view of the island and the sea is breathtaking, you can also see the island of Folegandros. Built in the 15th century, it is dedicated to the Virgin Mary. In the past it was one of the refuges of the residents during the pirate attacks, today there is only one nun left who will always be happy to let you visit and explain some areas of the monastery.

If you want to reach it by car, you can get to a parking lot just below and then continue on foot with a view where sky and sea seem to be one. And if you go there at sunset ... well we leave the conclusions to you.

Monì Episkopi the most famous find on the island. An ancient Roman mausoleum of the 3rd century AD, later transformed into a Christian church in the 17th century with the shape of a castle A facade decorated with two columns and sculpted architraves that hide the past when it certainly had other functions. So far it has not yet been understood what the old ruins are under the church, it is assumed that it was a temple dedicated to the God Apollo given the presence of an amphitheater in the vicinity of the remains.

Sikinos is known for its wine production, an ancient tradition that is lost in time. Do not miss the Manalis winery which is located just after the Chora on the right. A view of the terraces planted with vineyards where you can watch a spectacular sunset with a good glass of native vivo and with the possibility of staying for dinner. A stop to put absolutely among the things to do in Sikinos.

Like all the Greek Islands, Sikinos also has its share of beaches where you can spend quiet and relaxing hours of idleness. We start with the Agios Georgios beach to the south east, in a bay sheltered from the winds with a beach of thick golden sand, calm and crystalline waters and a seabed that descends slowly, perfect for families with children. Some trees offer natural shade during the hottest hours. A small fish tavern for something delicious to eat and drink. It can be reached either by land or by sea with the traditional gulets that depart from Alopronia.

The others are the Agios Nikolaos beach, Katergo beach and Dialiskari beach also to the north east with a white sand coast, a screaming sea and trees behind for a bit of shade. There are also some umbrellas and sun beds, very few in reality, so those who arrive first stay better. Dialiskari can be reached either on foot through a path that starts from Alopronia or by boat.

The only way is by sea and perhaps also for this reason it is not on the routes of mass tourism, here you really need to want to come and discover it.F

rom Piraeus it takes 8 to 10 hours depending on the seasons and races.

From Santorini in an hour and a quarter you can get there, from Folegandros in forty minutes.

Considering that the destination is not so beaten, inquire well about the timetables in order to better organize your visit.

An unusual but decidedly true and pure stop to be placed among the Cyclades Islands to see at least once in a lifetime.