Listed 8 sub titles with search on: Sights for wider area of: "NORTH SPORADES Island complex MAGNESSIA" .
SKIATHOS (Island) NORTH SPORADES
Around the middle of the 14th century, because of the continuous pirate
raids, the people of Skiathos were forced to set up their city in Kastro, a peninsula
on the northern part of the Island, which was a natural fortress. In order to
strengthen this fortress they surrounded it with walls full of embrasures and
cannons tumed to the land. These were very strong and tall. Communication between
the fortress and the land was done by means of a wooden mobile bridge, which joined
the fortress gate with the hill that faced it. In case of emergency it was pulled
towards the inside part of Kastro and as a result it did not allow enemies to
enter. On top of the external gate there was a terrace with the essential "zematistra",
(a skillet full of hot water to scald intruders).
From the time it was built until 1453, Kastro was under Byzantine
rule. Later, until 1538 it was under Venetian rule and until 1821 it was under
Turkish rule. For a small period around 1660, Kastro went again under Venetian
rule. Throughout these years the life of the people was very difficult and at
times even hellish since apart from the continuous pirate raids and the aspiring
conquerors, the people had to face the problem of limited space in the inside
of the castle fortress. Therefore, the houses were small and built very close
to each other. Despite this, in Kastro there were more than twenty churches, a
mosque without a minaret from the time of the Turkish accupation, and the required
water tanks. The Cametary was located outside the city.
This text is cited Sep 2002 from the Municipality of Skiathos URL below, which contains images.
SKIATHOS (Small town) NORTH SPORADES
Bourtzi is a small peninsula which separates the port of Skiathos
in two. In the past it was a fort, which was established by the Gizi brothers
who occupied Skiathos in 1207. It was surrounded by walls battlements and embrasures
and on the left and right of the gate there were two round towers. It is not possible
to determine the height of the walls by the present ruins. Moreover, in the fort
there was a tank and a small church called Agios Georgios, protector of the Venetians,
probably built by the Gizi brothers. Because of that church, Bourtzi was also
called "Kastelli tou Agiou Georgiou - Castle of St. George". The fort was destroyed
in 1660 when the admiral Fransesco Morozini occupied the island In 1823 though
the ruined embrasures, the island inhabitans - both Skiathans and refugees - managed
to repulse Topal - pasha.
After the liberation, the first lazaret of the island operated in
Bourtzi. In 1906 a primary school was built in the centre of the peninsula, donated
by Andreas Syngros. In the entrance of that school since 1925 there has been the
bust of Alexandros Papadiamantis. Nowadays, Bourtzi is really a rare recreation
place. It is full of pine trees, always with fresh, cool air and with a magnificent
view. There are few ruins of the old fort and we can see, on the left and right
of the street leading to the entrance of the old school, the sites of the church
of Agios Georgios and of the fort tank.
The old primary school has been converted into a picturesque cultural
centre, with the initiative of the present municipal authorities. In it, there
are practical conference rooms in good taste and a faboulous summer theatre which
hosts successful theatrical and musical performances every summer. Moreover, in
Bourtzi there is a municipal cafe where special nights are held. These fit in
with the ambience of the small, full of green peninsula.
This text is cited Sep 2002 from the Municipality of Skiathos URL below, which contains images.
SKOPELOS (Small town) NORTH SPORADES
SKIATHOS (Small town) NORTH SPORADES
The house where Alexandros Papadiamantis was born on 4th March 1851
does not exist today. It was sold and the new owners put it down. Papadiamantis
grew up and died in the new house his father built in 1860, as it is said on a
built-in inscription on one of its walls. This house is located about 100 metres
inland from the eastern coast of the city, in a narrow street which is a dead-end.
It could be said that it is a sidestreet of the present Papadiamanti street. It
has two levels with the upper floor (anogi) and the lower floor (katogi). The
lower floor is made up of three rooms and a small oblong entrance which leads
to these three rooms. On the left, as we enter, there is the winter room with
its historical fireplace. This is where Papadiamantis lived his last moments.
On the fireplace there were two shelves where all the cups of the house were.
The smallest room on the right was in the begining a priest's room
where Adamantios, Alexandros' father, kept his books and his vestments. Later
it belonged to Alexandros and he used it as a bedroom and a study. It was absolutely
like a monastery cell with a window, a built-in cupboard and his narrow and small
bed. Right opposite the entrance, there is the living-room of the house with a
coloured diamond-shaped design on the ceiling as the only decoration. The house
is generally a simple, austere island house. Today the old entrance of the house
which is on the western side is closed. The entrance side and the visitors enter
the house - museum through external wooden stairs.
This text is cited Sep 2002 from the Municipality of Skiathos URL below, which contains images.
KECHRIA (Beach) SKIATHOS
Tel: +30 24270 23333
Fax: +30 24270 23333
The church of Panagia lies in a lush green valley full of olive and pine trees overlooking the beautiful beach of Kechria. From here begins the uphill path that crosses ravines with old mills and ferns to reach the monastery of Kechria. The monastery, dedicated to the Dormition of Virgin Mary, was founded in the 16th century. Today, all that remains of the erstwhile monastic complex is the katholikon, richly decorated with frescoes on its interior walls. In its preserved form, the church dates back to the 18th century.
SKOPELOS (Small town) NORTH SPORADES
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