Serifos is the 42nd largest island in all of the Aegean Sea. Nearly round in shape it sits in deep relief, guarded by lofty mountain peaks at its interior. Its name, according to most. comes from “sterfos” or “sterifos,” meaning barren and hard. For locals, Serifos’ name is also that of the sea cicada. The island lives in the myth of Perseus, who was hosted at the palace of Serifos’ King Dikty. Another legend believes Serifos was the island of the Cyclopes, to which the Cyclopes’ Cave owes its name.
Serifos’ main town, Chora, boasts a unique and unmistakable beauty. Steep slopes are created by hard granite. Houses are small and often low-ceilinged two or three-stories flanked by charming churches. The island has been continuously inhabited for 2,800 years and remains largely untouched by development.
Other settlements on the island include: Panagia, Galani, Kentarhos or Kallitsos, Ramos, the port town Livadi, Koutalas and Mega Livadi. This last village was created for the needs of the mining industry and was also the main export port for iron ore on the island. Certainly the most prolific attraction on the island is the Monastery of the Taxiarchis built on northeast side of Serifos.
Serifos is referred to as "The Iron Island” due to the boom the industry gave this island. The Mycenaeans of long ago were the first to identify the rich deposits of iron here. In historical and classical times the mines were operated by Roman conquerors. From1861-1960 the mining industry was functioning in full swing, grinding to a halt in those later years once all iron was successfully mined.
Γενικές Πληροφορίες - Χάρτης