Skiathos

SKIATHOS lies 41 nautical miles from the towns of Volos and 44 miles from Agios Konstantinos. It has an area of 48km² and a population of 4.200 inhabitants. Skiathos town is the capital of the island.

The island has mild winters with high rainfall and sunny and warm summers, which are not as hot as in the Cyclades Islands. The average temperature in July is 26°C and in January. Skiathos also has the summer winds called meltemia, which reduce the temperatures from end of July until middle of August.

Skiathos has always been called by the same name since the pre-Hellenic period. It is believed that this name was given by the Pelasgians, its first inhabitants, because they were impressed by the great shade (skia in Greek) of the many trees covering the island.

The islanders also took part in wars against the Persians and in 478 BC and became a part of the Athenian Alliance. It was later occupied by Alexander the Great and then by the Romans. During the Byzantine period it sank into oblivion. In 1204 was conquered by the Venetians and in 1583 by the Turks. It was then that the inhabitants of the old town, built on the site of present-day Skiathos, abandoned it and constructed on the north side of the island the famous Kastro, perched on a nearly invisible rock. During the Greek War of Independence of 1821, many warriors from Thessaly opposite took refuge on the island. Skiathos was liberated in 1823. Skiathos town was severely damaged by German bombs during the Nazi occupation. After the Second World War the island prospered economically and socially.

Skiathos is famous for its wonderful beaches which are extending on many kilometres and have golden sand and mirror-like waters. There are more than 70 beaches on the island. All of those paradises are surrounded by dense pine forest, descending down to the sea. The most famous beach on the island is Koukounaries.

The island has an international airport with daily connections with Athens and other European cities during the summer months. You can access the island by ferry boat from Agios Konstantinos, Volos, Thessaloniki, Alonissos and Skopelos and in the summer also from Kymi, Euboea, Skyros and other islands.