Skyros - Σκύρος

Skyros is a captivating, pine-scented escape that holds the title of the largest and southernmost island of the Sporades complex. What makes this island exceptionally unique is its split personality; the northern half is blanketed in dense, lush pine forests and green agricultural fields, while the south is a rugged, barren landscape of jagged rock that looks identical to the Cyclades. The absolute crown jewel of the island is its stunning capital, Chora, a breathtaking hill town perched dramatically on a high volcanic crag. Walking through Chora means navigating a steep, vertical labyrinth of narrow, whitewashed alleys where the sugar-cube houses feature flat roofs designed to block out the high winds, all leading up to the historic 10th-century Byzantine Monastery of Saint George and the ruins of a medieval Venetian castle that reward hikers with a sweeping panorama over the deep blue Aegean Sea.What truly sets Skyros apart from the rest of Greece is its deeply protected cultural isolation and extraordinary living traditions. 

The island is world-famous for its rare, miniature breed of Skyrian horses, a critically endangered horse species dating back to antiquity that roaming herds still maintain wild on the island's southern plateaus. Inside Chora, residents proudly decorate their homes with intricate, hand-carved Skyrian wooden furniture and vibrant local ceramics, a tradition beautifully showcased at the Faltaits Folk Museum. For coastal relaxation, the island boasts pristine, uncrowded shores like the golden sands of Magazia and Molos, or the pine-fringed, turquoise bays of Atsitsa and Pefkos on the western side. In the evenings, life centers around cozy waterfront tavernas serving local specialties like teroptaria (traditional cheese pies) and legendary lobster pasta, offering an authentic, slow-paced masterclass in traditional Greek island living.

Almost at the centre of Aegean see, combines in perfect harmony the rich plantation of Sporades islands with the white picturesque villages of Cyclades.