Skyros

The beautiful Greek island of Skyros is part of the chain of islands known as the Sporades, and is located in the blue waters of the Aegean Sea. To be more precise it is between the northern islands of Sporades and the Island of Evia.


The stunning, long, sandy beaches are abundant around Skyros and they serve as recreation spots for the locals and the tourists who come here to enjoy  tranquility.

Skyros island is also known as it is connected to Achilles, the legendary hero of the Trojan War. In fact, Skyros has been referred to as the place where he was sent by his mother, goddess Thetis, to prevent him from participating in the Trojan War, as he would be killed in that war.

Skyros beaches

Beaches in Skyros are known for their crystal waters and the marvelous landscape that surrounds them. The most popular Skyros beaches are Molos and Magazia, which are the closest beaches to the main town. Some Skyros beaches are difficult to access but once you get there, you enjoy total privacy. You will find below a list with the best beaches in Skyros island.

Skyros museums

Skyros Island is extremely rich in culture, which is shown in the two major museums that are found on the island: the Archaeological Museum and the Manos Faltaits Museum.

The Archaeological Museum of Skyros displays artifacts from archaeological excavations between the Early Helladic to the period of Roman occupation. Built in the year 1967, the museum is located in Chora and contains pottery from the Protogeometric period dated between the 11th and the 9th century BC, coins, pitchers and jewelry taken from the cemetery on the coast of Magazia.

The Manos Faltaits Folklore Museum, established in 1964, is housed in the Faltaits residence. The Faltaits were a noble family of the island and decided to make this contribution to the cultural heritage of the island. The museum houses items depicting every day life in the various periods of the long history of Skyros.

Skyros Local products

This island is characterized for its genuine natural charm, its fertile land and lush vegetation which favour the agriculture and cattle breeding activities. Some of the most authentic local products here came to be low fat dairy products, such as feta cheese, graviera, which is similar to hard cheddar cheese and mytzithra or xinotiri that tastes like yogurt. One can also get protein rich olives, fine quality local wine and the best choice of wild honey and some herbs here. There are also many noteworthy local fruits and special sweets.
Skyros is known for its rich tradition in the art of embroideries, ceramics and wooden furniture. The local products are available in many shops in Skyros Town.

The Ponies of Skyros

The mountains to the southeast of Skyros town are home to the unique breed of ponies which exist on the island since their introduction there by the Athenians in the 8th century BC. This rare breed can only be found on Skyros and they number only a few hundreds today. Since the old times the ponies have lived, evolved and developed their unique characteristics here isolated from the rest of the Greek islands and the mainland.

The ponies are comparatively short, as they are 9.1 to 11 hands (avg. 105 cm) and small bodied owing to the low food availability in the mountains. They come in the nice coats of Bay (reddish brown hair with black mane and tail) and also rarely in Gray (white hair on black skin) or Palomino (golden brown hair with white mane and tail). Skyros ponies have small heads, wide bordered eyes, long falling manes and thin straight shoulders.

It is said that the ponies of Skyros, famous for their endurance, were used by the army of Alexander the Great during his conquests and the travel to Asia. The friezes of the Parthenon temple in Athens depict such ponies. The ponies used to live wildly in the South, in groups centered at a den with nearby natural grass and water resources. But when summer would come, they would leave the mountains for the springs of the North. The native farmers tamed the strong horse during this time for threshing and ploughing. This has built a long standing relation between the ponies and the residents of the island.

However, the mechanization of farming has affected their numbers badly. Cross breeding with donkeys prevailed and the farmers goats and sheep have taken over the mountain food and water resources, leading to a decrease in the number of pure bred ponies. Still they are valued and loved by the natives and there are missions underway by the government and non profit organizations to secure their survival. You can see the ponies at the Skyrian Pony Centre on the way to Atsitsa bay.

Accommodation

Skyros is a quiet island with very traditional character. Although some places to stay can be found in the picturesque town, most hotels in Skyros are found in the popular seaside resorts of Molos and Magazia. Molos is a long sandy beach, lined up with many shops and restaurants. The beach of Magazia is the natural continuation of Molos. There are some large Skyros hotels in these areas, but for the most part, accommodation in Skyros consists of smaller family hotels, traditional apartments, studios and guesthouses with simple rooms and basic facilities.