Looking for an unspoiled Greek island with some of the most beautiful beaches in Greece, an amazing hora and great food? Serifos is the place to be.
In the heart of the Cyclades Islands, Serifos is 73 km², with 1,450 inhabitants and a total of 12 km of sandy beaches, is a whole world fulfilling everybody’s dream of an Aegean Island.
Once you are there, you will be impressed by the serenity of the landscape, as your senses get attuned to its beauty. The land is made of iron and granite, making Serifos the rockiest island in the Cyclades. Rolling hills dotted with small churches and monasteries, sandy beaches with sparkling blue waters, famous monuments from the lands ancient and medieval past, picturesque white villages bathed in the dazzling Aegean light. All this, along with warm hospitality, excellent tourist facilities and a rich cultural life, have combined to make Serifos one of the favorite spots in the Cyclades Islands.
Livadi, a picturesque harbour is the only port on Serifos Island, and the pretty and well-tended seaside area is a nice place to go for a walk. It lies on a wonderful green valley and reaches the sea, through a majestic sandy beach Avlomonas. You’ll find cafés, fish tavernas, and confectioner’s shops by the seashore, only a few meters away from the wharf.
Hora (Serifos Town).
Perched on the top of a steep hill, Hora or Serifos, the main town of the island, with its little cube-shaped houses, churches in the island style, and its Venetian castle above, looks like a fairytale town. It is amphitheatrically built on a rock hill overlooking its port of Livadi. At the top of the hill there are the ruins of a Venetian Castle, which was used to protect the island. In the area of the castle, on the ruins of the ancient temple of Athena, carved in the rock, there is the small church of Agios Ioannis Theologos. The castle was destroyed on 1210 after being attacked by pirates.
The town is separated in two areas, the old town “Pano Hora” and the newer one “Kato Hora”. “Pano Piatsa” is the old commercial center with the Town Hall, a neoclassical building built in 1907 and the Metropolitan Temple of Agios Athanasios.
The few shops, bars, cafés, and tavernas are scattered along the narrow backstreets, built in the local style. Walk from Chora up to the Castle, it’s a 10-minute stroll. The edifice was constructed by the Venetians during the 15th century. When you reach the top, you will be rewarded with a breathtaking view of the immense blue skies and the like-coloured sea below!
Mythology
According to mythology, the island of Serifos was inhabited by the Cyclops, who ar said to have built several of the monuments on the island, such as the White Tower and the Walls of Liomandra.
Serifos is the location where yet another mythological tale took place. Akrisios, the King of Argos, was told by an oracle that his grandson would be responsible for his downfall, so he locked his daughter Danae in the palace. In spite of this precaution, Zeus, who was in love with Danae, managed to leave her with child by appearing in the form of golden rain. Once Danae gave birth to her son Perseas, Akrisios put both of them into a box and threw it into the sea.
The box washed up on the shores of Serfios and was found by King Polydektis, who also fell in love with Danae. Wanting to get rid of Perseas, Polydektis sent him to kill Medusa, the mythological creature who turned people into stone by looking at them. With the help of the god, Perseas killed the monster. Athena gave him a shield with which he could reflect Medusa’s gaze and successfully attack her. Returning with the head of Medusa, Perseas turned Polydektis into stone.
If there is some historical truth in mythology, then the first inhabitants – Kings Polydektis, his brother Diktis and his people – were Aeoleans from Thessaly. During the Prehistoric Times, tribes from Crete lived on the island. Phoenicians and Myceneans followed. In the 7th – 6th century BC, the Ionians used the iron on Serifos to become a great commercial and political center. At the period of the Persian Wars, Serifos was part of the Athenian Alliance. The island continued to be active during the Hellenistic Era.
How to get to Serifos?
The island is easily accessible by ferry from Piraeus port in Athens but also from other islands in the Small Cyclades group like Milos, Sifnos, and Kythnos.. The route from Piraeus port to Serifos lasts approximately 2 hours. During summer, some extra routes are carried out from Lavrion port.
There is no airport on the island of Serifos. The closest airport is located in the nearby Island Milos. Thus, the most convenient one is Athens International Airport “Eleftherios Venizelos” which receives both domestic and international flights all year round. From the airport of Athens, you can easily reach Piraeus port and embark on the ferry to Serifos.
Alternative options are the private boat transfers by the local rental boat companies.
Useful Phones
Serifos police station: +30 2281051300
Municipality of Serifos: +30 2281051210
Community Clinic: +30 2281051202
Port Authority: +30 2281051470
Serifos’ Buses: +30 2281051211, +30 2281051345, +30 2281051034
Folklore Museum: +30 2281051181
