Likasti Skopelos Apartments for Rent

History of Skopelos

"Skopelos: the island of the legends"..

ANCIENT PEPARITHOS

 History - Location - Morphology

Population 3,500 inhabitants-Area 96 sq. km.

The charm of Skopelos captures the visitor from the first surveying before we go ashore.

On the shores of the scenic view bays, the green hills, white churches, houses in Skopelos peculiar rhythm. The island territory is mountainous and the greater part is covered by pine forests and trees. The coasts are countless natural beauties combining the rugged rocky landscape, with small sandy beaches. With a developed tourist infrastructure offers visitors the ideal solution for holidays both for the lover of nature and adventure, and for all the well being and nightlife. The wine is famous and coveted since antiquity, and scholar of 18th century Caesarius Dapontes includes it among the most important things in the world (Cannes comprehensive many excellent things). Before leaving the island do not forget to taste the famous Skopelos cheese pie is one of the famous specialties of the island.

HISTORY

Skopelos was probably inhabited in the Neolithic period given that findings dating from this area have been discovered in Skopelos which is very close to Skopelos. The ancient name of the capital of the island, Peparethos was mentioned by Thucydides.
Around 1600 BC Cretans settled the island; their leader was king Staphlylos for whom the mythology says that he was the son of Dionysus and Ariadne.
According to legend, the mythical

Staphylos is said to have introduced wine making to the island (staphylos = grape). After the Mycenaean period Skopelos was taken by the Dolopians (people fro Thessaly) who used the island as a military base for many centuries.
Then the Chalcidians came and founded three colonies Panormos (today called Glossa), Selinos (today called Loutraki) and Peparithos (the actual capital of Skopelos Town).

During the 4th century AD an archbishop's seat was established; first one to occupy it was Reginos who became a saint and the protector and patron of the island.
The 4th century AD was also the beginning of the 800 years of Byzantine rule from which very little historical evidence remains.
In 1204, the Venetians occupied Skopelos as a barony. Many rulers succeeded as well as the Ghisi Family, united with the Dukedom of Naxos.

Theseus went to Crete to kill the Minotaur (half bull, half man) for whom 7 young boys and 7 young girls from Athens had to be sacrificed every year.

Because the Minotaur was in a labyrinth inside the palace of Knossos, Ariadne, King Minos's daughter, help Theseus because she fell in love with him.
On the returning trip to Athens, Theseus left Ariadne on the island of Naxos; the island's king was Dionysus who fell in love with the young girl and had four sons with her; among them was Staphylos and Peparithos from which the capital of Skopelos took its first name.
On the bay where Staphylos is suppose to have disembark, precious findings of a tomb (supposed to be Staphylos' one) containing golden treasures have been excavated in 1936; the golden sceptre found there is now in the Archaeological Museum of Volos and the sword hilt in the Archaeological Museum of Athens.

The island seafaring, trade and transportation so Skopelos became quite wealthy and enjoyed a period of prosperity.
In the 5th century started the Persian Wars during which the island remained neutral. At the end of the wars, Peparithos (Skopelos) join the Athenian Delian League and implanted a democratic political system.
The winners of the Peloponnesian war, the Spartians, replaced the democratic system of the island with an oligarchic policy.
Then the island was successively conquest by the tyrant Alexander of Pherres, the Macedonians and the Romans who re-established a democratic political system.
During Roman times trade re-flourished in Peparithos and wine export expanded.
In the 2nd century AD Ptolemy the Geographer is the first one to refer to Peparithos as Skopelos, probably as a reference to the many reefs surrounding the island.
Since then, the island kept this new name.
Christianity appeared in Skopelos in the 3rd century AD and spread quickly.

In 1538 the Turk pirate Barbarossa attacked the island and slaughtered its inhabitants; some of them survived and escaped to Evia and Thessaly; they return to their homeland much later. In Sedoukia there are Pirate Graves, a reminder of invasions of the past.

Many years after this massacre, the Turkish occupation began during which the inhabitants of Skopelos (the few survivor and new settlers) were self-governed and paid a tax to the Turks. During 1750 the spirit of revolution spread and the first Greek partisans and guerilleros started to seek refuge in Skopelos which participated in the Revolution and became part of the liberated New Greek State in 1830.

SKOPELOS –CITY -24240

Has 3,000 inhabitants, it is activated and is the capital and the first port.

Built on the SE coast on the edge of the homonymous bay blossom to the hills looking towards the shore amphitheater truly mesmerizing the first glance a visitor to the streets and the characteristics of homes that are connected by air balconies. The houses are built next to one another, with tiled roofs and balconies full of flowers. They consist of one or two floors and feature magnificent balconies. Here, as elsewhere, is dominated by the simple charm. Never exceed the measure traditional craftsman gave each home its own touch, without specific knowledge, they just received from the previous generation, creating a single set that exudes kindness and grace. At every step the visitor sees big or small churches, from the 360 ​​that exist throughout the island. Of these, 123 are located in the city, each with its own beauty, many nestled in the courtyards of the houses.

At night the entire life of the country moved to lit beach. Customs, beliefs, superstition and traditions are still a living reality in Skopelos, always directly connected with the sea, which for centuries more united than separated the island from the outside world. ''Tranta'', a large boat from wood and reeds, after the first was a procession in horio. Neraides, dragons, niggers, treasures and gnomes, pirates and miracles of saints still live in Skopelos, between reality and fantasy testament to the names of the island preserve old memories: Palouki, Sentoukia, Glyfoneri, Dasia, Ditropo, Andrina, etc.