The site is now a popular and interesting cultural centre that is well worth a visit. In fact, the islanders invited the Venetians to take possession of the island and the first major fortress at Bourtzi was built by two Italian brothers. This tradition continued into the Byzantine era, but unfortunately the island’s reputation for the quality of its timber and boat building, as well as its natural produce, became a magnet for the pirates that terrorised the Aegean. It was during this period that Skiathos became famous for the quality of its ships, shipwrights and sailors, using timber from the magnificent pine forests that covered the island. Over the following centuries up until the birth of Christ, the island allied itself at different times with Sparta and Athens. The Ionians came here in the 8th century BC and must have been pleased to discover an island as green and fertile as their own!
The Cretans were amongst the earliest settlers here and its present name may be derived from the Cretan “Skiathos” or Dionysis.
The history of Skiathos is also fascinating. At night the whole area is transformed into an array of waterfront restaurants and cafes welcoming locals and visitors alike. During the day it is busy with the hustle and bustle of the locals, their fishing boats and the arrival of numerous ferries. Skiathos Town itself is littered with church towers and paved alleys. Small, traditional houses can be found whose architecture blends in with the classical mansions in graceful Venetian styles.
The interior is rural with olive groves, pine woods and hillsides that few explore. The air is filled with the scent of aromatic herbs and the only sounds are the waves breaking far below or bells sounding from a tiny village church. It appeals to those who enjoy wild and lonely landscapes with hidden valleys, wooded hillsides and cliff top paths. The west coast, for instance is spectacular and almost undeveloped. There is however much more to the island than its sixty eight famous magnificent sandy beaches, fantastic watersports and resorts offering a cosmopolitan and sophisticated nightlife.
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