Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
ARTISTS & PIRATES
Skyros has a lively community of working artists, from potters and painters to
sculptors and weavers. The island artistry dates from Byzantine times when
passing pirates collaborated with rogue residents, whose houses became virtual
galleries for stolen booty looted from merchant ships: hand-carved furniture,
ceramic plates and copper ornaments from Europe, the Middle East and Asia.
Today, similar items adorn almost every Skyrian house.
To see the legacy of this very Skyrian tradition, check out these favourites:
Ge-
orge Lambrou
(sculptor and painter);
Stamatis Ftoulis
(ceramics);
Olga
Zacharaiki
(embroidery, ceramic);
Lefteris & Emanueleou
(woodcarving);
Amersa Panagiotou
(embroider).
For details on finding these working artists, contact Chrysanthi at Feel ingreece
(22220 93100), just off upper Agora.
Magazia & Molos Μαγαζιά & Μώλος
The resort of Magazia is a compact and colourful maze of winding alleys that skirts the
southern end of a long, sandy beach just north of Skyros Town. Skinny-dippers can leave
it all behind at
Papa Houma
near the southern end of Magazia.
Near the northern end of the beach, once-sleepy Molos now has its own share of de-
cent tavernas and rooms. Its landmark windmill and adjacent rock-hewn church of
Agios
Nikolaos
are easy to spot. The road ends at nearby
Girismata Beach
.
Sights
There is a flourishing and diverse arts scene in Skyros, from traditional pottery, wood-
working and embroidery, to modern painting and sculpture. Exceptional painter and
sculptor
George Lambrou
( 22220 93100)
has pieces at the Benaki Museum in Athens,
but you can visit his modest studio in Magazia throughout the summer. And facing the
beach is the studio-workshop of ceramic artist
Stamatis Ftoulis
(
22220 92220, 22220
91559)
, who also has a showroom in Skyros Town.
Sleeping
Two good options in Magazia are
Ariadne Apartments
(
22220 91113;
www.ariadnestudios.gr
;
Magazia; d/apt from €55/80;
)
with garden setting, and
