Visited in 2006, 2007,
2011 and 2017 |
Walking, hiking and trekking on SIKINOS |
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BOATS SIKINOS WALKS (last update on the 28th of January 2021)
**** = exceptional
+ Gpx = with Gpx-file
1.
Aloprónia - Agios Pandeleímonas - Stamatiní - Chorió
*** 4. Chorió - Stamatiní - Episkopí and back **** 5. Chorió - Stamatiní - Episkopí - Pigádi Manáli - Agios Pandeleímonas - Aloprónia *** + Gpx 6. Episkopí - Pigádi Manáli - Agios Ioánnis and back *** 7. Kástro - Aloprónia and back *** + Gpx 8. Kástro - Zoödochos Pigí - Profítis Ilías - Agia Triáda - Profítis Ilías - Kástro *** + Gpx |
Síkinos
is a fairly small island (41 km˛), situated between Folégandros and Ios,
in the southern Cyclades. The island is still very quiet and not really
affected by the tourist invasion to the Cycladic isles. Santorini is the
southern neighbour of Sikinos, but the difference between the two islands
could not have been bigger. There are only about 200 people living at Síkinos and the mountainous interior only has a few roads: from the little
harbour of Aloprónia to the double main town, consisting of Chóra or Kástro
and Páno Chorió, and (fairly recently) from Chóra to Episkopí. The
boat line from the Piraeus to Kýthnos, Sérifos, Sífnos
and Mílos (with the Adamantios Koraďs) continues
three
times a week to Folégandros, Síkinos, Ios
and Santoríni. At first sight, Síkinos
has not a lot to offer – in some travel guides this island is not
mentioned at all. But for people who like peace and quiet, hiking and
friendly people, Síkinos is really a very pleasant island. The interior is very
dry and barren, but the beautiful valley between Aloprónia and Chorió
looks really attractive. Chorió itself is a
very peaceful but authentic little
village; it is situated at an altitude of
280 metres, and besides some pleasant little streets it also possesses a
nice kástro and a kind of walled in square with in the middle the church
of Pantánassa. The town is dominated by the large monastery of Zoödóchos
Pigí, built around 1700 and it was protected against the pirates by heavy
walls. At 4 km from the
main town you can find Episkopí, a temple in honour of Apollo, dating
from the 3rd century BC. Later on, in the 5th
century, this temple was converted into a church – a very nice example
of the reuse of walls and pillars. The beach of the harbour of Aloprónia is really nice, ideal for children; there are umbrellas and benches. The remote beaches of Agios Geórgios and Málta can only be reached on foot, in summer also by means of small boats. But it is mainly with regard to hiking that Síkinos is very interesting. The ancient network of trails is very well preserved and offers the opportunity to get to all of the far-off places and remote valleys of the island. Síkinos is part of the
important project "Paths of Culture"
of ELLINIKI ETAIRIA
- Society for the Environment and Cultural Heritage, an organization that
deals with the conservation of the natural environment and the cultural
heritage of
Greece - see
http://www.monopatiapolitismou.gr/?p=562&lang=en
There are also detailed maps
of the series of Anávasi and Terrain Maps, with on the reverse side
additional information on the walks that cover the whole island. To be recommended are the trip
from
Kástro
to
Aloprónia
and back, the trip to Episkopí,
the marvellous trajectory between Episkopí and
the
Pigádi Manáli, the very
lonely valley between Agios Pandeleímonas and Stamatiní with at the
highest point a truly magnificent view, and the trail to the Profítis Ilías
and the heights of Kafkáres.
Since January the 1st 2004 you are visitor n° |
II Panorama of Chóra The monastery of Zoödóchos
Pigí The monastery of Episkopí
The monopáti to Episkopí
Sunset
The thyme bushes that exist everywhere |