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Exploring Skiathos Town

Exploring Skiathos Town
With Three Suggested Walks
Victoria Sandels
(2008) B/W
Pages: 32
Price: 8,50 E

I sometimes feel Skiathos Town is misunderstood! Many just see the myriad of shops, bars and restaurants and never explore the wonderful churches, old neighborhoods and interesting sites the town offers. This book also includes three walks starting from town.

Chapters

Introduction
A Few Notes

Details in Town
Flowers on Doors
Black Crosses
Blue Eyes
Garlic
Black Crosses
Guardians

The War Heroes' Statue
The Anchors
The War Memorial
The Sailors' Statue
The Bourtzi
The Papadiamantis and Moraitidis Memorials
Papadiamantis Square and Museum
The Smaller Church of St. Nicholas
St. Nicholas by the Clock Tower
The Windmill

The Old Harbour
The Katsoni War Memorial
Moraitidis House
The Church of the Three Hierarchs
The Shrine of St.Paraskevi
The Shrine of Hanging St. John
The Ancient Pier
The Lovers' Rocks
The Shrine of Plakes
The Church of Panagia Limnia
The Church of Holy Trinity
The Ancient City Wall
The Cemetery
The Mothers' Church

Three Suggested Walks from Town

The Church of St. Fanourios
(ca. 50 min)
Includes a detailed description of the amazing view

A Stroll Around the Lake
(ca. 1.30 hr)
Includes the Church of St. George
Shrines
The Boatyard

St. John of the Tower
(ca. 2hrs)
Includes various shrines, flora and a detailed description of the church and the lovely premises.


Skiathos Town has very few ancient ruins but part of the 5th Century BC city wall still stands behind the church of Holy Trinity. It was partly destroyed on command of the then governing Macedonians, who wanted the locals to abandon the town as the enemy was approaching. The ancient city wall ran all around the old neighbourhood: from the Old Harbour up to the Cemetery, then over the Acropolis, down Papadiamanti Street and down to the harbour again.

The Church of the Three Hierarchs was built after the locals moved back to town from Kastro, the old capital, in the 1830's. It is full of interesting icons, relics and items from old churches no longer in use and the most famous one is this icon, the Kounistra. It depicts the Virgin Mary as a young girl and is said to have been found in a tree by a hermit around 1650. The icon is believed to work miracles and it is the protector of Skiathos.
Alexander Papadiamantis is perhaps the most read and loved writer of modern Greek literature. He came from Skiathos and most of his stories are about the island and its inhabitants. Because of poverty he was forced to live and work in Athens for most of his adult life but he spent his last years back on the island. He lived in a house with his three unmarried sisters and after his death it was turned into a museum. The museum is open in the mornings and in the evenings and has a 1,50 entrance fee.

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The Church of St. Nicholas by the clocktower offers one of the best views of Skiathos town. The church is dedicated to the patron saint of all seafarers, which is why it is built in a location that can be seen from far away at sea. St. Nicholas is not Father Christmas in Greece but as he is celebrated on December 6th the Greeks put lighted boats on streets and squares as a traditional Christmas decoration in his honour. This is also where the post box scene in Mamma Mia was shot, although the actual box was just a prop.
For information about our Town Walks, please click here.