It is one of the largest islands of West Cyclades. The island is primarily famous for its gastronomy with a rich tradition. It is not accidental that it is the birthplace of Nikolaos Tselementes, the first Greek “Master Chef”.
An island with picturesque Cycladitic villages, pure white houses, stone-paved narrow streets, 227 churches with blue and white domes, traditional pottery workshops, golden sand beaches with blue waters, unique natural beauties, interesting sights and restaurants with heavenly food.
According to a myth, “Sifnos” was the name of the son of Sounios, a mythical hero of Attica.
√ The island is known for its pottery. Nowadays, in the entire island pottery workshops flourish, where you may find different kitchen vessels, splendid decorating, clay statuettes and you can also attend courses.
√ The island has many churches and monasteries. Many of them have attained to be characterized as historical monuments. The most known ones are the Monastery of Vryssiani of the 17th century. Here the Museum of Ecclesiastical Art is housed with a Gospel of 1796, relics, cases, holy vessels, icons etc., the Monastery of Virgin Chryssopigi (“Golden Spring” in Greek), the patroness saint of Sifnos; the monastery was constructed to shelter the wonder icon of the Source of Life.
√ The visitor of Sifnos admires a bay, Kamares, a port of the island and a relatively big seaside village. Here, one can find shops, hotels, rented rooms, taverns, cafés, pastry shops, pottery workshops, villas on the west side of the coast, the Monastery of Aghios Symeon, the church of Aghia Marina, the temple of Aghios Georgios and Aghia Varvara (built in 1785 and reconstructed in 1906), Fanari (1896) and the old mole (1909). There exists an organized beach of Kamares preceding in the take of the blue flag every year.
√ The capital of Sifnos is Apollonia with narrow splendid streets, the best place to go out in the evenings. You will find restaurants, cafés, bars, night clubs with Greek and foreign music, pastry shops, small, tasteful shops with jewelry, handmade works of art, clothes, gift shops, and most certainly, pottery shops. The interesting sights are: the Folklore Museum in the central square of a room with exhibits from the daily life of the island, churches with wall-paintings and artistic temples.
√ Just a few kilometres out of Town there is the village of Artemonas, a quiet place, ideal for quiet vacation. It is famous for its fabulous neoclassical mansions with lovely gardens and yards, as well as traditional pastry shops. In Artemonas you can see the house, where the poet Ioannis Gryparis was born, the churches of the Virgin of Samos, Konhi and Bali, and that of Aghios Spyridon.
√ On the east side of Artemonas, just where the wave washes, stands the pure white church of the Virgin of Poulati. It is of the most picturesque churches in Sifnos, built in 1870.
√ The Castle is of the most renowned settlement of the island and it is worth visiting, being made on the remains of the Old acropolis. It keeps the characteristics of the Venetian stronghold built by the dynasty of Da Coronia round 1635. In the area the famous School of the Holy Sepulchre (1687-1834) functioned, also known as the “School of Archipelago”.
√ In the settlement, it is worth visiting the Archaeological Museum, the small church of the Seven Martyrs, built on the top of a rock, the churches of Aghios Nikolaos, the Virgin of Mercy, the Virgin “the Assumption” (1593) with floors of folklore art. Famous settlements of Sifnos are Aghios Loukas, Vathy, Exambela (the six vineyards), Kato Petali, Katavati, Platis Yalos, Faros, Herronissos.
Beaches:
In Sifnos, many charming beaches with green-blue waters make their presence distinct, for all tastes. The biggest organized beaches of the island are Kamares, at the port, the cosmopolitan Platis Yalos, a sandy beach Vathi with shallow waters and many taverns, organised beach Vroulidia.
Apokofto, Faros, Chrissopigi, Glifo, Fassolou and Apokofto are quite beaches. Heronissos is a beach in a beautiful bay on the northernmost side of island.
The specialties of Sifnos are:
√ Traditional Revithada (chickpea disk)
√ Mastelo (tender meat of lamb or goat baked in traditional pottery ware)
√ An endless variety of meatballs, chickpeaballs, split peas balls, fish roe balls
√ Ksinomizithra (fresh cheese with a creamy taste)
√ Melopita is a sweet with fresh skim-milk cheese, honey and macaroons
