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Area:73 sq. km Population: 1133, Capital Serifos or Hora, How to get there: By daily boat from Piraeus, Sifnos, Kimolos, Milos. |
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HISTORY:Serifos was first mentioned in mythology as the place where the hero Perseus was washed ashore with his mother Danae and then set off to subdue the fearsome Medusa. It was colonized by the lonians around the l0th century joined the Athenian Confederacy, and submitted to the. Macedonians and Ptolemies. A place of exile for Roman political prisoners, Serifos experienced further decline under the Byzantines and was later governed by Venetian feudal lords. After being sacked by Barbarossa (1537), it fell into the hands of the Turks. For a short period (1770-1774) the island was occupied by the Russians. In recent years it has been very popular among tourists, even though it is equipped with few of the usual amenities SIGHTSEEING: The capital, with its ruined Vene- tian castle, dazzling white houses and flagston- ed lanes, is one of the loveliest in the Cyclades. A small collection of archaeological finds from the island is housed in the Town Hall. A number of post-Byzantine churches exist, most of them renovated. In the south·west part of the island, near Koutala, a cave used for cult worship has been discovered but has yet to be developed. 1he same area possesses two Hellenistic towers, called Aspropyrgos and Psaropyrgos today. .Churches and monasteries are scattered throughout the island. In the north, near the village of Panayia, lies the Byzantine church of the same name, an important construction of the l0th or 11th century. West óf Panayiá is the church of Agios Stephanos, whose walls show traces of Byzantine frescoes. However, the village's most outstanding monument is the l7th century monastery of the Taxiarchs near , the village of Galáni. This small fortress-like complex contains frescoes renovated in the l8th century along with sacred treasures, precious books and manuscripts. Serifos is a stony, mountainous island with tiny valleys tucked in between the hills and peaks. Though one of the most barren places in Greece, it is well endowed with beautiful beaches and clear water, accessible either by caique or on foot. The easiest to reach are Livadi, Koutalas, Megalo Livadi, Psili Ammos, Ramos and Sykamia. The island has yet to be developed for tourism. All the hotels and rooms for rent are located at Livadi, the port,· only a few rooms are available in the Hora. Never theless, its considerable natural beauty attracts an ever-growing number of visitors. |
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