Page 103 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Greek Islands

Sunrise at Lalaria beach on Skiáthos

THE SPORÁDES

AND ÉVVIA

Since ancient times, settlers and pirates alike have
been lured by the pine-clad mountains dotted with
villages and coastlines rich with hidden coves that
are found throughout the island group of the
Sporádes and the large island of Évvia. Due to
their proximity to mainland Greece, these islands
have been conquered numerous times throughout
their history. They were initially colonized in the
prehistoric era by nearby Iolkos (Vólos) and then
by the Minoans, who introduced vine and olive
cultivation. More than any other island, Évvia
reveals its diverse history in the large number of
buildings remaining from the long periods of
Venetian and Turkish occupation. Susceptible to
pirate raids, the inhabitants of the Sporádes lived
in the safety of fortified towns until as late as the
19th century. The islanders have a rich heritage of
maritime trading around the Aegean and are still
noted today as sailors.
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