Skiathos
(Volos, 41 nautical miles.) Planted with olive groves
and pine trees, Skiathos is a popular tourist destination,
thanks to its indented coast with numerous sandy coves. Skiathos
Town, was built in 1830 on two low hills. The seafront
is lined with seafood restaurants and cafes, and there
is a good marina. Many hotels, villas and private rooms
provide seasonal accommodation, and the town’s
bars and discos ensure a vibrant nightlife through summer. Boat
trips take tourists around the island to visit the ruins of the
medieval walled town of Kastro on the south coast, the Blue Cave,
and the pebble beach of Lalaria. From Skiathos Town,
a good road follows the southern coast with its numerous bays,
to arrive at the renowned pine grove beach of Koukounaries.
There is an airport, providing daily flights to and from Athens
all year round.
Skopelos
(Volos, 58 nautical miles.) The island has golden sands,
small bays and slopes covered with pine forests, olive groves
and plum trees (prunes are a local speciality). Not as
busy as Skiathos, it is known for its traditional architecture
and tiny white chapels. The chief settlement,
Skopelos Town, is made up of narrow cobbled streets,
whitewashed houses and the Venetian Kastro (fortress). The island
has a number of beaches, both of sand and pebble, and
shallow waters safe for children.
There is an airport, providing daily flights to and from Athens
during summer.
Alonissos
(Volos, 62 nautical miles.) The most distant and least
populated island of the Sporades, the hills of
Alonissos is covered with unspoilt woods. There are limited
tourist facilities – some small hotels and private
rooms to let. With only 10km of roads, the best way of getting
about is by motorboat, sharing the fare. There are numerous
good beaches, but as the coast has been declared
a Marine Conservation Park, building development is forbidden.
Skiros
(Kimi, 25 nautical miles; Piraeus ,118 nautical miles.) The
largest of the Sporades, Skiros lies far out from Volos
and is most easily accessed from Kimi. Tourist facilities
are not very developed, although there are some beautiful
sand beaches, good taverns serving authentic seafood and local
cheeses, and interesting craft shops. The chief settlement,
Skiros Town (also known as Horio), is made up of whitewashed
cottages and narrow winding alleys, crowned by the hilltop
Venetian Kastro (fortress). The Folklore Museum
gives a brilliant presentation of local handicrafts, and includes
a reconstruction of a traditional house. Close to the town lies
the large sand beach of Magazia.
This cluster of 12 (dodeca) islands lies on
the east of Peloponnese, closer to Turkey than to mainland Greece.
All the islands can be reached by ferry from Piraeus,
and the distance between them are fairly small, so visitors can
easily hop from one to another, swapping the relative sophistication
of Rhodes and Kos for the calmer and simpler life on Tilos or
Astipalaia. |
