Friday, July 27, 2012
The name of Serifos, one of the Westernmost Cycladic islands, means arid and barren, but the island has long been dubbed "the island of love."
The roots of Serifos’ 'erotic' fame are largely mythological: it is there where Perseus found refuge along with his mother, Danae, the fair girl who prompted Zeus to transform himself into a shower of golden rain in order to break into her chambers.
In Odyssey, Serifos features as the home of Cyclops Polephemus, whom Ulysses tricked by introducing himself as "noman," -in the present day, remnants of the cyclopean walls are found at the south western bay of Koutalas. [see photo gallery]
In modern times, iron mining played a major role in the island's economy, with the German Grommans controlling the Serifos mines since 1885. For decades, most inhabitants of the island worked at the iron ores under harsh conditions that led to the historic strike of 1916, when 4 workers died demanding better treatment. In 1963, the mines closed down- yet their remains, a spectacularly haunting image, are all over the western side of the island.
Livadi village next to the port, is the local hub, where most tavernas, bars and services are located, but the capital Chora, a typical fortification village perched on the hill over Livadi, will take your breath away.
Wander through the meandering cobbled pathways zigzagging in a web of white washed Cycladic houses, and climb up the remnants of the 15-century Mikieli Venetian castle all the way to St. Constantine. Untouched by the plight of massive tourism, local beaches cater for all tastes, pebble lovers and sand worshippers alike.
Psili Ammos is the most cosmopolitan one on the eastern part of the island, but Ganema, Koutalas and Vagia on the west are equally impressive- just locate your favourite tamarisk tree, and drift away into oblivion!
