The capital of the island is called Serifos of Hora. It is built on
a steep, rocky hillside overlooking the port, Livadi. The Hora of Serifos is a
typically Cycladic settlement, composed of dazzling white cube-like houses with
flat roofs, narrow alleyways with whitewashed steps, bridged at intervals by terraces
and arches. The dense, compact arrangement of the buildings has its roots in the
Frankish occupation, during which time Serifos had to defend itself against pirate
attacks. For greater security, the inhabitants crowed within the fortification
walls, while on the highest spot a stong castle was erected. The capital consists
of two neighbourhounds, Pano (Upper) Hora, the older section, and Kato (Lower)
Hora. Walking down from the fortress, one comes to Pano Piazza, the old business
center with the Town Hall - a Neoclassical building dating finds from the area
- and the cathedral of St. Athanasios, which contains a superb carved iconostasis
(18th c.)
This extract is cited May 2003 from the Municipality
of Serifos touristic pamphlet.
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