Island stories

                                                             a fine August morning...  

A blue breath away...

Just a breath of fresh air away from Attica and Evia , Skyros whose name stands for stone debris stands alone at the southeast corner of the Sporades island complex. When I first visited this jewel of the Aegean, six years ago, I was blown away by the brightness of its blue skies and the intensity of its azure waters. Skyros' unspoiled beauty spoke straight to my heart as it will to any visitor's. Its long, sandy beaches, its biodiversity within its protected NATURA habitat, its archaeological sites and magical sunsets are among some of the things I really enjoyed during my stay on the island. Whether you pay a visit to the submerged city of Palamari, get carried away watching the sunset at Atsitsa cafe, visit the Archaeological Museum of Skyros near the Town Square or enjoy a quick swim in the cool, crystal clear waters of Kalamitsa Beach, you will have the time of your life! The perfect end of a summer day includes fresh fish and lobster at the local tavernas of Aspous or Pefkos. And you should never go to bed before tasting a home-made ice cream inside the noisy Skyros main Square or even an exotic cocktail at the picturesque port of Linaria. Friendly bars & elegant coffee shops, await you at every turn of the magnificent Chora, with its cobbled-stone alleys and unsuperable views. Skyros is an unforgettable experience.

                                                                                                          Margarita Sotiropoulou / ATHENS - GREECE



The Aegean bright light...

What makes Skyros light in general seem so special? The combination of small masses of land dotted against the Aegean Sea, high island vantage points and steep cliffs which lets the observer perceive the light falling from the sun while more light simultaneously reflects back up off the sea, the neutral browness of the landscape, especially in the Summer, and the sparkling white of the simple Skyros island houses. It's magic, and it's not to be found in any guide book or monitor screen: it must be seen to be believed.

                                                                                                Petros Vittas / Photographer - ATHENS - GREECE

                                        


The romantic "Caique"

"Caique" is the small trading sea-going vessel, originally made of wood. It's the traditional fishing boat usually found among the waters of the Aegean Sea. It's the workhorse of the islands, often being used for multiple purposes of transportation. Most caiques are painted white, to counter the powerful sun, with the strakes and topsides in wonderful vivid colors. The name of the boat, usually a woman's name, is painted on the planking below the bow. Each caique is unique! Enjoy the wonderful artistic colors of Skyrian caiques and feel the island with a short excursion!

                                                                                                             Vicky Dellaportas / MELBOURNE - AUSTRALIA



ΜΠΛΕ...

Δεν έχει σημασία ποιά ακριβώς απόχρωση του μπλέ είναι που προτιμάς. Το μπλέ είναι εδώ γεμάτο φώς. Είναι παντού, είναι απο πάντα, πιο μπλέ απο όλα τα μπλέ του κόσμου. Υπέροχο μπλέ οι αναμνήσεις, δροσερό μπλέ τα όνειρα. Θυμάμαι πίσω, πολλά χρόνια πίσω, σαν απο ταινία μιας άλλης μακρυνής ζωής χρωματιστά νεανική σε μπλόκ ζωγραφικής, το μπλέ της αμμουδιάς στα Μαγαζιά, το γαλήνιο μπλέ στο Μώλο, το ξαφνικό μπλέ του Άγιου Φωκά... Ακόμα και εκείνη η αναπάντεχη μαλαστούπα μια Αυγουστιάτικη βραδιά της νιότης με μπλέ φεγγάρι, είχε ατέλειωτο μπλέ και εκτυφλωτικό λευκό, μπλέ & πράσινο, μπλέ και πορτοκαλί...

                                                                                                        Themis Veleris / Athens - Skyros



Blue Wind

Where your soul meets the wind. That is what I sense when I'm at an island of the Aegean in Greece. And perhaps there is no island that expresses my feelings more than Skyros. The blue clear waters, the immaculate skies, the crisp filtered air, make you feel so close to God's creation, expand your vitality, make you feel grateful for being alive.

                                                                            Thomas Patterson Papadopoulos / NORTH CAROLINA - USA


Unique DNA - Unique Project

The small-bodied species of the Skyrian horse (pony) is one of the rarest horse breeds in the world. In 2009, only 220 Skyrian horses were lived in Greece, of which 152 live in Skyros. The Skyrian horse is a protected species. The Skyros breed is believed to be descended from horses brought to the island of Skyros during the 5th to 8th centuries BCE by Athenian colonists. This ancient, rare Greek breed with the unique DNA, is renowned for its intelligence, wonderful disposition and temperament.

The Katsarelias-Simpson Project began in 2005 when Amanda Simpson and Stathis Katsarelias - rescued their first horse. In 2006 they began the project in earnest with three horses and the aim to protect the Skyrian Horse in its homeland. They were also spurred on by the wish to create a safe and secure place for the Skyrian Horse to live and to increase the quality of this extremely rare breed through selective breeding. Finally, they aimed to create a cultural environment where local and international people would come to appreciate the value and worth of the Skyrian Horse. Skyros Island Horse Trust is home to nearly 40 of these animals.

Find out more

https://skyrosislandhorsetrust.com/  

( By appointment only. Please arrange an appointment via skyrosislandhorsetrust@gmail.com  ) 




Vintage HOTEL...  

Το ξενοδοχείο των αναμνήσεών μας... 

Το ξενοδοχείο Υδρούσα (πρώην ΞΕΝΙΑ) ξεκίνησε να λειτουργεί το 1956. Είχαν προηγηθεί τα ΞΕΝΙΑ των Δελφών (1953) απο τον αρχιτέκτονα Δημήτρη Πικιώνη, και της Καστοριάς (1953), της Τσαγκαράδας (1955), & της Κέρκυρας (1955) (αλλά και άλλα...), απο τον Χαράλαμπο Σφαέλλο. 2 χρόνια αργότερα, το 1958, ο μοναδικός Αρης Κωνσταντινίδης κτίζει το ΞΕΝΙΑ της Άνδρου & συνεχίζει με νέα ΞΕΝΙΑ σε όλη τη χώρα. Τα ξενοδοχεία ΞΕΝΙΑ της διάσημης σειράς, ήταν ο βασικός κρατικός πυλώνας της χώρας πάνω στον οποίο βασίστηκε η επίσημη Ελληνική τουριστική πρόταση της εποχής. 

Το ΞΕΝΙΑ της Σκύρου, στολίδι της τότε εποχής, παραμένει μέχρι και σήμερα μπροστά στα καταγάλαγα νερά του Αιγαίου και στέκεται αγέρωχο κάτω απο το βράχο της Χώρας της Σκύρου, μέσα απο μια ιστορία ετών που αφήνει καθηλωμένο κάθε επισκέπτη.

Υπέροχη αρχιτεκτονική των 50's - 60'ς σε μια αναδρομή του χρόνου και των ανθρώπων που πέρασαν απο τους υπέροχους χώρους του. Σήμερα, γοητευτικοί άνθρωποι που έζησαν την Ελληνική αθωότητα εκείνης της εποχής αναπολούν τις μοναδικά γαλάζιες αναμνήσεις του παρελθόντος στο πρώην ΞΕΝΙΑ Σκύρου. Άνθρωποι που αγάπησαν & λάτρεψαν τον δικό τους μπλέ παράδεισο με τα μάτια & τη καρδιά στο Ανατολικό Αιγαίο.

Ευαγγελία Κουτσούπη / Hydroussa Hotel Skyros




From imagination... to reality

My Skyros

Sometimes, there are no appropriate words to describe beauty, to express feelings that arise from a dream place...

Just in the centre of the Aegean Sea... Skyros, with special character, an inspiring island where traditional architecture and beauty are met...

Sun and sunlight...

Calmness and relaxation...

Colors of nature...

Hospitality of local people...

A way to be inspired, to feel blessed...

Endless Blue...

Countryside, villages with white houses, warm clear crystal waters and golden long beaches with soft sand, the blue sky or the breathtaking view of the sea, stunning landscapes, traditional taverns or modern café bars... whatever you may choose, your moments will be full of emotions and unforgettable memories.

You might be a couple in love, a young child, an older man or a family, some friends... but also a painter, a photographer, an author... whatever kind of traveler you are... you will find a place to dream, to imagine, to have fun, to relax... to live...

Beyond the boundaries of the imagination, a perfect place where past and present are in harmony... a combination of beauty and serenity...

My Skyros... an island that is always in my heart.

                                                                                     Angie Kakaniari, Author / ATHENS - GREECE



Skyros Scuba Diving Blue Adventure

There is always a blue story without words...

inside the BLUE of Skyros...



There is always a colored island story without words...



There is always a yellow POST CARD story...

Remember our yellow memories !

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               Multicolored Skyros...

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