Siphnos Sífnos

Chief place: Apollonía

Sífnos, one of the southern Cyclades, lies roughly in the center of the triangle formed by Melos, Sérifos and Páros. The north and northwest of the island are occupied by barren ranges of hills, the east and south by gentler uplands. The coast is much indented, and lined by cliffs for much of its length. Agriculture (particularly onion-growing) on the island's fertile soil, the manufacture of pottery of traditional type and weaving bring the inhabitants a modest degree of prosperity.

Already well populated in the period of the Cycladic culture (third and second millennia B.C.), the island grew so wealthy in classical times from the produce of its silver-mines that the Siphnians built a treasury in the sanctuary of Apollo at Delphi. When the flooding of the mines made it impossible to work the silver the island declined into insignificance.

Entrances to the silver workings can be seen in the sea at Áyios Sóstis and Áyios Minás.

Regular service from and to Athens (Piraeus), several times daily (5.5 hours; cars carried).

Local connections with Sérifos, Kímolos and other neighboring islands.