Serifos Island •

Explore Serifos Island

Serifos Island is a hidden gem in the Cyclades, renowned for its unspoiled natural beauty, rich history, and vibrant culture.
From the charming streets of Chora to the crystal-clear waters of Livadi Beach, every corner of Serifos offers something special.

Location

Serifos is in the West Cyclades, between Kythnos and Sifnos just over 70 nautical miles from Piraeus, with daily summer ferry connections.

Easily accessible from nearby Cyclades islands like Milos, Kimolos, Paros, and Syros, and close to Athens, Serifos is popular with cruisers and sailboats, sometimes hosting the International Aegean Sailing Rally.

The island covers 75 square kilometers, with an 80-kilometer coastline featuring bays, coves, and capes.

Nearby islets include “Piperi” to the north, “Serifopoula” to the northeast, and “Vous” to the east, named for its ox-like shape.

Serifos is part of the Milos region, with Ermoupoli on Syros as its capital, and shares the Cyclades’ mild, cool climate.

Traditions

Dance and Music

Serifos has a unique music and dance heritage. Traditional instruments include the "souravli" and "toumpi," later joined by violins and lutes. Key dances are the "syrtos," danced by three men and two women, followed by "ballos." The "malakos" dance is slow and circular, changing direction with specific musical cues. Other popular dances include "kalamatianos," accompanying songs like "Trechantiraki," "Pergantis," "Batarolos," and "Malakos." During Carnival, people dance the "apokrian dance," performed with vocals only.

Mythology

Serifos is linked to notable characters and monsters in Greek mythology. According to a local version of Homer’s Odyssey, Odysseus and his companions encountered the Cyclops Polyphemus on the island’s southwest. The myth of Perseus and Medusa also unfolded here. Additionally, the “Frog of Serifos” was once a famous ancient Greek proverb.

History

The Cycladic civilization, the first in the Aegean, developed around the Cyclades islands in the 3rd millennium B.C., named for their circular arrangement around Delos. Serifos played a significant role since the proto-Cycladic years due to its rich metal deposits, which provided wealth and its own currency, reducing reliance on agriculture, livestock, trade, or shipping.

The name “Serifos” derives from “sterfos,” meaning fallow or barren land. During the Ottoman period, the island was known as “Serfos.” Initially inhabited in the 7th century B.C. by Aeolians from Thessaly and Ionians from Attica, followed by Phoenicians, Cretans, and Mycenaeans, the island thrived in the Classical Era, joining the Second Athenian League, and later passing to the descendants of Alexander the Great, Romans, and Franks.

Serifos experienced cultural and financial growth under the Duchy of the Aegean but was later occupied by the Turks. Frequent pirate attacks led to the fortified design of Chora’s Castle and the Monastery of Taxiarches.

In 1821, Serifos participated in the Greek Revolution, gaining freedom from Ottoman rule and joining the Greek state. The island’s history is marked by mining activities from ancient to modern times, culminating tragically with a bloody miners’ strike.

The Mines of Serifos

Serifos’ mineral deposits have been known since ancient times. Intensive mining occurred during Roman and Venetian rule in the 14th century, with limited activity during the Turkocracy. Modern mining began in 1870 with the Serifos Mining Company, but systematic operations started in 1885 under German mineralogist Emile Grohmann.

Over 21 years, millions of tonnes of ore were extracted, boosting the island’s population. In August 1916, miners protested against fatal accidents, low pay, long hours, and harsh management by Emile Grohmann’s son, G. Grohmann. The strike resulted in 8 deaths and 30 injuries but led to wage increases and the establishment of an 8-hour workday. The mines closed in 1964.

Beaches

Serifos boasts 40 officially mapped beaches (locals claim 72!). Each beach offers unique features, from blue or green waters to varying depths and shades.

To explore them all, you’ll need to spend many summers here.

Karavi: Combines flat rocks with golden sand, featuring a reef and shipwrecks with ancient amphorae.
Koutalas: Named for its spoon-like shape, with clear waters and an interesting seabed.
Vagia: Busy beach with high-quality waters, fine pebbles, and a canteen. Bring your umbrella for shade.
Ganema: Popular for its golden sand, tamarisk trees, and clear waters. Accessible by car, though some walking may be required.
Psili Ammos: Award-winning beach with shallow green waters, golden sand, and tamarisk trees. Two taverns with parking are available.
Agios Ioannis: Less crowded, with a mix of sand, pebbles, and cobbles, located below a beautiful chapel.
Platys Gialos: Enclosed bay with sand and deep blue waters, consisting of three small beaches.
Sykamia: Long sandy beach with shallow green waters and tamarisk trees. A family restaurant is nearby, and a 20-minute walk leads to the bay of Skala.
Agios Sostis: Features a small peninsula connected by a sand strip, ideal during the etesian wind. Park at the hilltop and walk down.

Kalogeros: Accessible via a 20-minute trek, featuring a threshing floor and a windswept palm tree.
Karavas: Sandy and pebbly beach on the north side, requiring a cautious downhill path.
Kalo Ampeli: Green waters and sandy beach with wide rocks but no shade. Path passes by the chapel of Sotiras.
Lia: stunning beach with crystal-clear waters, popular with nudists and celebrities. Bring a mask for the seabed and an umbrella for shade.

Nature

The island’s vegetation includes brushwood, capers, thyme, fennel, and oregano, with vineyards, olive trees, and citrus on arable land. Its clear blue sea hides a diverse marine life. Serifopoula hosts Aegean gulls and shags, while a dam in the Steno area supports agriculture. Nearly one third of Serifos is a Natura 2000 site, protecting its biodiversity and natural habitats.

Gastronomy

Experience the rich gastronomy of Serifos with its traditional flavors.

Explore the island’s taverns for a taste of revythada (slow-cooked chickpeas), fried sun-dried tomatoes, Xinomyzithra (local sour cream cheese), marathotiganites (fried fennel pies), and tsigarides (pork cooked with herbs).

Don’t miss the opportunity to try “souma,” a herb-infused spirit akin to raki, along with louza, a local specialty based on ham, and the flavorful local sausages.