Serifos offers a unique blend of history, culture and natural beauty.
Since prehistoric times, the island has been inhabited by the Phoenicians, Mycenaeans and Ionians, and has experienced great economic and cultural development.
Serifos, with its 72 beaches and beautiful villages, is often called the Iron Island of Greece, as it has been known for its minerals since ancient times. Mining activity on the island continued over the centuries until it came to a halt in the 16th century when the Ottomans occupied Serifos. The mines were exploited again after 1860.
The island’s population doubled in 1910 when workers from neighboring islands and the Peloponnese flocked to Serifos to find work in the mines.
History
The history of the island dates back to ancient times, as evidenced by the ruins of the ancient town of Serifos. In prehistoric times, Cretan tribes arrived on the island, followed by the Phoenicians, Mycenaeans, Ionians, Romans, Byzantines, Venetians and Ottomans.
References to Serifos also exist in mythology, in which it is mentioned that the Cyclops lived on the island and built the White Tower, the Walls of Liomandra, etc. Elsewhere in mythology there is mention of King Polydectes, who found a chest on the island’s beach containing Danae and his son Perseus. This was a decision taken by Acrisios, the king of Argos, because a Pythian oracle had announced that he would be killed by Perseus’ grandson.
Manners and customs
The Captaincy takes place on the last Sunday of Halloween and is a “battle” between two teams, which have a leader, a captain and a flag. The winning team is the one that receives the other’s flag.
Xylopanagia is the name of the great festival of August 15.
On Easter Monday, there is the custom of “Cradle”. The young men of the village set up makeshift swings in the alleys and swing the girls while reciting improvised verses.
The founders are the inhabitants who have a church under their responsibility and during the festivals which they organize themselves, they offer passers-by mezze and wine which they themselves produced.
On Easter Sunday, Judas is burned. They placed an effigy of a man dressed in clothes filled with dry branches, grass and other flammable materials in the square and set it on fire as punishment for betraying Christ.
Types of tourism
Cultural tourism, religious tourism, wine tourism, professional tourism, social tourism, marine tourism, sports tourism, hiking tourism, alternative tourism, ecotourism, even botanical tourism.
Beaches
| With a sandy beach | With stones | With rocks |
| Partially organized Avlomonas | Lia | Aspros Kavos |
| Agios Sostis | Centarhos | Carava |
| St-Jean | Abesallos | Pear |
| Flours | Gialoudi | Vatudi |
| Very organized | Hair salon | Dinner |
| Fine sand | Monk | Two Gialoudia |
| Sycamore+gail | You spoon | Greek |
| Wide glass + pebble | Stairs | Karamousa |
| Hair salon+pebble | Deep lagada | Centarhos |
| Great meadow | Distomo | Pool |
| Good luck | Paraspario | Kunturo |
| Vroulia | Taxpayer | |
| You spoon | ||
| Boat | ||
| Partially organized grasslands | ||
| Good vine | ||
| From South |
Tourist attractions
- 17th century Taxiarchon Monastery built in the form of a fortress
- Blue Byzantine Church of Panagia
- Chora with the 15th century Venetian castle.
- Archaeological and Folklore Museum
- Windmills.
- “Psaros” tour.
- Hellenistic White Tower.
- Château de la Vieille (what remains).
- Koutalas Cave.
- Cyclops Throne.
- Old laundry.
© Clairy Moustafellou
Livadi Beach
sport
Diving, boat trips, jet skiing, boat fishing, water skiing, hiking, running, windsurfing, cycling, etc.
Local recipes and local products
- Baked chickpeas.
- Chickpeas with raisins.
- Fenugreek meatballs.
- Louza sausage.
- Grape beans.
- Capers.
- Pastaki Serifos, vanilla cream and chocolate on biscuits.
- Xinomyzithra.
- Hard cheese.
- Amount.
- Macarons.
- Converge.
- Pastel.
- Marathon pies.
- Marathon pancakes.
- Myzithra.
- Wine.
- Split peas.
