Syros

The South Aegean island of Syros is both stately and traditional, Orthodox and Catholic, cosmopolitan and Cycladic. where you may spend your evenings in the theater and your mornings on the beach.

Island location

The island of Syros

Syros, the Cyclades' capital, is a multifaceted island. Built on two hills, even its major town has two distinct identities. Hermes' town, Ermoupoli, is a beautiful and majestic place with an Orthodox church on top. Above it, the Cycladic settlement of Ano (Upper) Syros is capped with Catholic churches and monasteries.

From Dellagratsia's fairy tale homes to the port's marble-paved squares, the opposites mix harmoniously. With so much to do, Syros is an island where you might live year-round. You'll have little trouble adjusting to daily life, where the classic and traditional are as delightful as the island's well-known loukoumi (Turkish delicacy).

Vaporia, the Mayfair of Syros

They hosted the extravagant balls and glitzy celebrations for which Syros was renowned in the 19th century. The dome of Agios Nikolaos Church is prominent underneath them. The interior, which includes chandeliers imported from Trieste and a marble pulpit and icon screen, illustrates the opulence of its sponsors. If you're lucky, you might be able to hear the church choir that has been singing since the 1920s.

Enjoy the beach

Everything is located on Ermoupoli's beach, including restaurants, tavernas, stores, cafe-bars, and even a casino situated in an 1830s palace. The historic transit storerooms and a massive 19th-century customs building may be found at the end of the coastal road.

Explore Ano Syros

Every characteristic of a typical Cycladic hamlet may be found in Ano Syros. On a steep slope, its white cubist cottages nestle close to one another, connected by lanes that are only large enough for two people and that occasionally lead to breathtaking terraces.

The Renaissance Cathedral of St George on its top and the monasteries below, as well as the bouzouki music of Markos Vamvakaris that can still be heard in its squares and stores, are two of its unique features. Vamvakaris was one of the best rebetika (blues) musicians in the nation and a local son of Syros. You will get a panoramic view of Ermoupoli from this location that rivals any in the Cyclades.