SERIFOS ISLAND - CYCLADES

Area 73 sq. km. Distance from Piraeus 70 nautical miles.

Bare, undulating hills interspersed with small, fertile valleys cover this picturesque island. The rocky coastline is deeply indented with a succession of coves and bays. The curious rock formations resemble human figures which call to mind the myth of Danae, Perseus and Medussa, as if these prehistoric inhabitants of the island had been turned to stone. Ferries call the Livadi, the sheltered port on the eastern side of the island, where there is long, horse-shoe-shaped sandy beach.

Perched on the top of a steep hill, Hora or Serifos, the main town of the island, with its little cube-shaped houses and churches in the island style, with its Venetian castle above, looks like a fairytale town. The fortress-like monastery of the Archangels ( moni Taxiarchon ), near the village of Galani, which houses some fine wall-paintings and important books and manuscripts, is of special interest.

The village of Panagia ( which takes its name - meaning 'Our Lady' - from the dedication of a fine 10th century church ) commands a panoramic view of the whole island. The greatest attraction of Serifos is its magnificent beaches (Mega Livadi, Koutalas, Agios Sostis, Psili Ammos, Agios Ioanis, Sikamia). However, it is a charm all of its own, something in the unique 'atmosphere' of the island, which attracts an ever-increasing number of visitors from Greece and abroad.