Page 229 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Greek Islands

Cape Diapóri Piraeus, Rafína,
Ándros
Sykamiá Beach
Did You Know? Grámmata Kastrí Sýros
Bay
Sýros was seized for Sýringas
the Ottomans by the
notorious pirate- Halandrianí
admiral Barbarossa.
Hartiána
Delfíni Beach
Nearby, on Platía Vardáka, is Agía Áno Sýros Mýkonos, Tínos
the Apollo Theatre, designed Kíni Paraskeví Náxos, Páros,
in 1864 by Italian architect Agía Varvára Ermoúpoli
Pietro Sampo as a copy of La
Scala in Milan. The first opera Profítis Ilías
house in Greece, it is noted for Galissás Tálanta
its fine paintings of Mozart Armeós Beach Syros Island
Airport
and Verdi and is still used for Agía Pákou Págos
plays and concerts. Parakopí
Across the street the 1871 Azólimnos
Velissaropoulos Mansion, now Vissa
housing the Labour Union, Chroússa
has an elaborate marble Fínikas
façade and splendid painted Posidonía Vári
ceilings and murals. Beyond Agathopés
Hontrá
here is the church of Ágios Beach Peninsula
Nikólaos (1848) with a marble Mégas Gialós
iconostasis by the 19th- 0 km 2 N
century sculptor Vitális. Also 0 miles 2
by Vitális is the world’s first
monument to the unknown
soldier, in front of the church.
In the upper town, the twin finest plasterwork, frescoes The Vamvakaris Museum,
bell towers and distinctive and marble carvings in Greece. dedicated to the life and work
blue and gold dome of Ágios The houses cling to the coast- of the famed singer Markos
Nikólaos mark the start of the line above the city’s quays and Vamva karis, is just off this road.
Vapória district. Here Sýros’s moorings at Tálira, Ágios At the top of Áno Sýros, the
shipowners built Neo-Classical Nikólaos and Evangelístria. Baroque Aï-Giórgis, known as
mansions, with some of the The charming district of the cathedral of St George,
Vrontádo, on the hillside, has a contains fine icons. The Jesuit
number of excellent tavernas cloister was founded in 1744
spread out on its slopes. around the church of Panagía
A half-hour’s climb along Karmílou (1581), and has 6,000
Omiroú street, or a brief bus books and manu scripts in its
ride, brings you to the fortified library. Below it, the Capuchin
medieval Catholic quarter convent of Ágios Ioánnis was a
of Áno Sýros. Also known meet ing place and a refuge
as Apáno Hóra or Kástro, Áno from pirates.
Sýros is a maze of white-
washed pas sages, arches and Archaeological Museum
steps weaving through a ⌂ Platía Miaoúli § 22810
huddle of interlinking houses. 88487 # Apr–Oct: 9am–4pm
The main entrance is Kamára, Tue–Thu, 9am–9pm Fri–Sun;
an ancient passage way leading Nov–Mar: 8am–3pm Tue, Wed
into the main road, or Piatsa. & Fri–Sun ¢ Main public hols
Vamvakaris Museum
" ⌂ Platía Vamvakári, Áno
Looking over the bright Sýros § 22810 84762
and busy harbour from # 10am–3:30pm Mon–Tue,
Ermoúpoli’s upper town 11am–6pm Wed–Sun
229

228-229_EW_Greek_Islands.indd 229 27/11/2018 17:20