Page 218 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Greek Islands

EXPERIENCE The Cyclades

Local crafts for sale displayed
outside the charming white
houses of Apollonia, Sífnos

6 the main square has a good
collection of embroideries
Sífnos and local pottery.
EAT Σίφνος Artemónas is Apollonía’s
twin village. The second
g @ Kamáres n www.
sifnos.gr largest on Sífnos, it has
Leonidas impressive Venetian houses.
This basic, but very Famous for its pottery, poets The 17th-century church,
delicious, spot is and chefs, Sífnos has become Ágios Geórgios tou Aféndi,
the place for tasty the most popular destination contains several fine icons
magirevtá, such as in the western Cyclades. Visitors from the period. The church of
revythokeftédes (like in their thousands flock to the Panagía Kónhi, with its cluster
falafel), rabbit stew and island in summer, lured by its of domes, was built on the site
mastélo (lamb stew). On charming villages, terra ced of a temple of Artemis.
top of this, the views countryside dotted with Kástro village overlooks the
from the veranda are ancient towers, a few Venetian sea 3 km (2 miles) east of
more than match the dovecotes and long, sandy Artemónas. The backs of its
impressive food. beaches. A small, hilly island, it houses form massive outer
⌂ Entrance to Kástro, is also a magnet for walkers. walls, and some buildings in
SÍfnos § 22840 31153 In ancient times Sífnos was the narrow, buttressed alleys
renowned for its gold mines, bear Venetian coats of arms.
¡¡¡
and the islanders paid yearly There are ruins of an ancient
homage to the Delphic acropolis in the village, and
Irini sanctuary of Apollo with a the Archaeological Museum
A heart-warming solid gold egg. One year they has a collec tion of Archaic and
traditional shop and cheated and sent a gilded rock Hellenistic sculpture, and
kafenío (café) where instead, incurring Apollo’s Byzantine pottery.
Mrs Irini whips up curse. The gold mines were The port of Kamáres is an
comforting meals for flooded, the island ruined and old-fashioned resort, with
hungry diners. On the from then on it was known as waterside cafés and tavernas.
menu, you’ll find local sífnos, meaning “empty”. Buses from Kamáres port
noodles with various The capital, Apollonía, is east connect it with Apollonía and
toppings, including of Kamáres port. A labyrinth Kástro, on the east coast.
delectably tender of white houses, flowers and The north of the harbour was
stewed goat. belfries, it is named after the once lined with studios
⌂ Folégandros 7th-century BC Temple of making Sífnos’s distinctive
§ 22860 41436 Apollo, which overlooked the blue and brown ceramics, but
¡¡¡ town, now the site of the 18th- only two remain. Taxi boats go
century church of the Panagía from Kamáres to the funnel-
Ouranofóra. The Museum of shaped bay and beach at
Popular Arts and Folklore in Vathý, in the south. An hour’s
218

218-219_EW_Greek_Islands.indd 218 04/01/2019 10:45

EW Must-see / Catalogue template v1.1 – 18th May 2018
Fonts: Aptifer Sans LT Pro, Posterama Text, Soho Gothic
Pro, Soho Pro, ITC Caslon 224