A monotonous grey landscape of rock, broken up here and there by
a gleaming white chapel, is the first impression made on
visitors as the ferry draws into the harbour. But this gives
them no idea of the beauty spots waiting to be discovered
inland, which together with the island’s superb architecture,
rank it among the jewels of the Aegean.
The island was famous in ancient times for the wealth, which
came from its gold and silver mines and the quarries of Sifnos
stone. It enjoyed great prosperity in Classical times, as can be
seen from its Treasury, dedicated to Apollo at Delphi.
An attractive drive from the pprt of Kamares, a modern town with
pottery workshops, brings us to the island’s capital, Apolonia.
Standing on three hillsides, with its typical Cycladic style of
architecture, it is breathtakingly beautiful. It has an
interesting folklore Museum, while the churches of the greatest
interest are those of Our Lady “Ouranofora” and St Sozon. Like
that of the villages round about (Artemonas, Exambela, Kato
Petali), the architecture of Apolonia is an odd assemblage in
which walls, terraces, courtyards and alleyways form large cubes
in a continuous complex, in total harmony with the natural
environment.
The sole exception to this is the old capital of Kastro, which
remains an example of medieval town planning. A collection of
Archaic and Hellenistic sculpture and of ceramics from the
Geometric to the Byzantine period is on display in its
Arcbaeological Museum.
Picturesque windmills surrender their sails to the vagaries of
the wind, while no fewer than 365 churches and chapels sprout
all over the island like white mushrooms from the grey carpet of
the island’s terrain. The monasteries of Sifnos, such as that of
St Symeon, of Ai- Lias, the Vrissi monastery with an interesting
little Byzantine museum and that of Our Lady “Hryssopigi”, the
patron saint of the island, are held in high esteem.
The strong local colour of the mountainous island with its
strips of coastal plain is further heightened by its picturesque
fairs and festivals. There are clean and attractive beaches at
Kamares, Faros and Platis Gialos, as well as quieter and
lesser-known ones, such as those at Hersonissos, Vroulidia, and
Fikiada Fassolou. Tourist facilities on Sifnos are of a good
standard and it is possible for the visitor to combine a lively
night life with a peaceful island existence close to nature. |
