Sifnos
Sifnos is well known for its natural beauty, the villagers’ hospitality, the traditional white washed village, the paths lined with stones, the numerous picturesque churches, the historical monasteries and the clean coasts. It is an island that endears the travelers. It might not be done by the first sight, where dominates the dry landscape of the harbor (Kamares), but certainly it will be done by entering the up-country region. The numerous olive trees create a nice sensation and feed the local community with their blessed fruits. The vineyards in the non-residential districts strengthen the sensation of greenery. The dry stone walls border the properties and function as stiles, which hold on the ground of the steep hills, in order to create rudimentary conditions of cultivation.
Whoever wants to come close to the nature will easily detect the traditional paths lined with stones, so as to go for a walking trip, but most of you will enjoy the road network and the well-organized municipal transports.
History of Sifnos
Sifnos was inhabited by pre-Greeks or Aegeans between 3000 and 2000 BC. It was became known by the mineral activity of silver and lead, as result of having great flourish between the 8th and 5th century BC.
Sifnos distinguished itself in the middle of the early Cycladic culture. It was under the influence of Minoan and Mycenaean civilization. It was colonized by Ionians in 1130 BC, where they found the today’s Kastro (= Castle).
Sifnos became a member of A’s and B’s Athenian league. Later on, it became under the Macedonian authority, met the Roman possession, entered in the Byzantine “county of isles”, in 1207 was under the authority of the Dukes of Marco Sanudo and Agelo Sanudo, while in 1537 Kapitan Pasha Khaireddin Barbarossa annexed Sifnos to the Ottoman state.
In 1650 Sifnos proceeded to the second period of its acme. It became the seat of the archbishop’s palace. In the area of the Kastro ran the great faculty of Sacrosanct Sepulchre, the “Archipelago’s school”. In 1821 Sifnos showed military action both at the revolution of 1821 and the war of 1940. Finally it met the Italian possession.
( *** Historical data: N. Prombonas )
You must also know that Sifnos…
-Has 235 (big or small) churches
-Organizes a lot of religious festivals
-Has great tradition to pottery
-Is the motherland of the great chef Nikolaos Tselementes.
Tastes of Sifnos
-Chickpeas
-Chickpea balls
-Traditional cheese (Mitzithra & Manura)
-Mastelo (mainly at Easter)
-Capers salad
-String beans
-Macaroons
-Honey pie
