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Syros  Syros is the major island of the Cyclades, and has a large commercial port. Despite its working image, it has three of the best restaurants in the islands. Because Syros is the administrative centre of the Cyclades, and has plenty of industry revolving around the commercial port, tourism is not as important to the economy as some of the neighbouring islands. Its beautiful beaches and local tavernas have not therefore succumbed to the tourist dollar to the extent of some of the other islands. |
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Unusually for Greece, half the population is Catholic due to the influence of trading with the Venetians. Despite the harsh, dry climate, the inhabitants succeed in subsistence agriculture, growing vegetables, producing wine and raising animals. There is also a boat-building industry and some textile manufacturing remains.
History Archaeological investigations show that Syros has been inhabited since the stone age. More prosaically, Greek mythology claims that the first inhabitant, Coeranus ("Lightning"), was borne to the island on the back of a dolphin after his ship had sunk. The oldest acropolis in the Cyclades is found on Syros. The most striking architectural feature of the island is the Venetian influence. Like many of the Cycladic islands, the Venetians came here in the beginning in the 13th century, and stayed until the Turks took over in the 16th century. What to See
Beaches The best beaches are generally considered to be on the South and West side of the island. Galissas beach is a very beautiful sand beach, Vari, Finikas Bay and Gialos are also popular beaches and are rarely overcrowded. It is worth trying a few of them. For families with children Ag Nikolaos, Ermoupolis and Ambela are recommended. Nightlife Most of the nightlife is situated in Ermoupolis. There are lots of bars and clubs there, but the partying is more relaxed and oriented towards the local inhabitants than on the more touristy islands. Food You can enjoy a wide selection of Greek and Italian food in the many tavernas in Ermoupolis. There are also places to eat at Galissas, Posidonia and Kini for example.The St Michali cheese is a local specialty, and there is also Syrian wine.
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The capital Ermoupolis is a pretty town with many neoclassic buildings. On the square is a statue of the freedom hero admiral Andreas Miaouli. The Apollo Theatre in Ermoupoli is a copy of La Scala in Milan, though evidently on a smaller scale. The town is also well endowed with interesting churches, for example Ag Dimitrios, Treis Hierarches and Ag Nikolaos. You should also try to get to Ano Syros, a small medieval village. There you can see the Catholic Cathedral of St George and the monasteries of the Jesuits and Capucins from the 18th and 17th century respectively a little further away. Here is also a museum dedicated to Markos Vamvakaris, a composer of traditional Rebetika music. There are music festivals every summer in this village. At Halandriani and Kastri there are archaeological excavations where Neolithic settlements have been found. It is also worth visiting the stalactite cave Agios Stefanos.
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