Added: 06/13/2006 |
Skiathos brings in tourists to see the Papadiamantis MuseumSkiathos Island has everything needed for an ideal holiday. There are beaches that rank high on Greece's and Europe's best list and there are lush natural surroundings and noteworthy sightseeing, plus great accommodations for every budget, and great entertainment venues for every taste, and infinite sporting activities. The wonderful beaches of Skiathos and the island's lively nightlife are more than enough to satisfy most visitors. But, those people who take the time to explore the island's hilly and wooded interior will find some lovely county side peppered with deserted monasteries and churches with cool mountain springs, olive grooves, and pine forests. The evenings here could consist of a meal in your hotel or a bite in a local tavern. You could also take a trip to picturesque Skiathos Town that has many great restaurants.
Although many visitors wish they had more time to see a great number of beaches, they also stop to see the Papadiamantis Museum which is near the port. The museum is dedicated to Alexander Papadiamantis who is revered throughout Greece for his short stories. The Papadiamantis Museum is in the capital housed in the author's own 140 year old residence and it is preserved as if time has stood still. It evokes memories of that era and of a totally different Skiathos that was described in the writer's tales which a number of Greeks grew up with. The writer was born on Skiathos and spent his childhood on the island before leaving for Athens to pursue his literary career. He later returned to his homeland and he died in 1911 in the house that is now a shrine to his memory and is now called Papadiamantis Museum. The house has the bed where he died, some of his personal belongings, his pen, and his inkwell. Papadiamantis' short stories and novels that have been translated into English focus on the island life, particularly that of Skiathos.
In the most beautiful setting of the Skiathos, these are monasteries. The visits here are very interesting. The more mountainous parts of Skiathos are loaded with monasteries which on days such as Easter provide a unique atmosphere. The monasteries of Panagia Elkonistra and Evangelistrias stand out among the monasteries. Pangia Elkonistra is a small monastery named after the Blessed Icon Painter. There is a grape arbor and a tavern inside the walls. On November 21st, there is a festival in his honor. At Evangelistrias Monastery, the round table made by the Orthodox Epitaphios takes place in the woods and is a real neat experience.
Every visitor should spend a few hours in Skiathos Town where the cobbled back streets are littered with 19th century sea captain's house and flowers on the balconies and there are many good quality shops in town. You will find some nice jewelry stores along with arts and crafts stores. There are also antique shops that look more like museums than shops. There is a great antique shop near the Papadiamantis Museum that has jewelry made out of fossils. All of these attractions that are found on Skiathos really bring in tourists who have made it one of the touristiest and cosmopolitan islands in the world.
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