Skópelos
Chief place: Skópelos
Skópelos, known in antiquity, down to the A.D. third century, as Peparethos, is a hilly and well wooded island in the Northern Sporades. The steep northeast coast is unwelcoming, and, apart from the wide bay of Skópelos near the east end, without inlets or irregularities of any consequence, and the gentler southeast coast is also relatively featureless.
Skópelos, known in antiquity, down to the A.D. third century, as Peparethos, is a hilly and well wooded island in the Northern Sporades. The steep northeast coast is unwelcoming, and, apart from the wide bay of Skópelos near the east end, without inlets or irregularities of any consequence, and the gentler southeast coast is also relatively featureless.
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The fertile areas on the island are mainly devoted to the growing of almonds and fruit (particularly plums; dried fruit packing station in Skópelos town). In many convents the nuns make woven goods and other craft products for sale. The tourist trade also makes a contribution to the island's economy.
The oldest traces of human settlement date from the Neolithic period. The ancient city of Peparethos was said to have been founded by the Cretan hero Staphylos, son of Dionysos and Ariadne. In the so-called Tomb of Staphylos gold jewellery, idols, a variety of implements and utensils and Minoan double axes were found; they are now in the museum in Vólos. The archeological evidence indicates, however, that from an early stage the inhabitants of the island were influenced by Mycenaean rather than Minoan culture.
After the seventh century Skópelos prospered, and the tribute it paid as a member of the first Attic maritime league was substantial. The Peloponnesian War, however, quickly and finally put an end to its prosperity. Thereafter it had a succession of different masters - Macedonians, Romans, Byzantines, Venetians and finally Turks - who allowed this remote and economically unimportant community a considerable measure of autonomy. In 1830 it was reunited with Greece.
Regular services from Áyios Konstantínos and Vólos, several times daily (four and a half hours in each case); also from Kymi (Euboea), three times weekly (three and a half hours).
The oldest traces of human settlement date from the Neolithic period. The ancient city of Peparethos was said to have been founded by the Cretan hero Staphylos, son of Dionysos and Ariadne. In the so-called Tomb of Staphylos gold jewellery, idols, a variety of implements and utensils and Minoan double axes were found; they are now in the museum in Vólos. The archeological evidence indicates, however, that from an early stage the inhabitants of the island were influenced by Mycenaean rather than Minoan culture.
After the seventh century Skópelos prospered, and the tribute it paid as a member of the first Attic maritime league was substantial. The Peloponnesian War, however, quickly and finally put an end to its prosperity. Thereafter it had a succession of different masters - Macedonians, Romans, Byzantines, Venetians and finally Turks - who allowed this remote and economically unimportant community a considerable measure of autonomy. In 1830 it was reunited with Greece.
Regular services from Áyios Konstantínos and Vólos, several times daily (four and a half hours in each case); also from Kymi (Euboea), three times weekly (three and a half hours).
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