Skopelos Σκόπελος | |
|---|---|
 View of thetown of Skopelos | |
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  Skopelos | |
| Coordinates:39°7′N23°43′E / 39.117°N 23.717°E /39.117; 23.717 | |
| Country | Greece |
| Administrative region | Thessaly |
| Regional unit | Sporades |
| Seat | Skopelos |
| Area | |
• Municipality | 96.229 km2 (37.154 sq mi) |
| Highest elevation | 681 m (2,234 ft) |
| Lowest elevation | 0 m (0 ft) |
| Population (2021)[1] | |
• Municipality | 4,518 |
| • Density | 46.95/km2 (121.6/sq mi) |
| Time zone | UTC+2 (EET) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC+3 (EEST) |
| Postal code | 370 03 |
| Area code | 24240 |
| Vehicle registration | BO |
| Website | skopelos |
Skopelos (Greek:Σκόπελος,romanized: Skópelos,[ˈskopelos]) is aGreekisland in the westernAegean Sea. Skopelos is one of several islands that comprise the NorthernSporades island group, which lies east of thePelion peninsula on the mainland and north of the island ofEuboea. It is part of theThessaly region. Skopelos is also the name of the island's main port and municipal center. The other communities of the island areGlossa and Neo Klima (Elios). The geography of Skopelos includes two mountains over 500 m (1,640 ft): Delphi (681 m/2,234 ft) in the center of the island, and Palouki (546 m (1,791 ft)) in the southeast. With an area of 96 km2 (37 sq mi) Skopelos is slightly larger thanMykonos (85 km2/33 sq mi) andSantorini (73 km2/28 sq mi). The nearest inhabited islands areSkiathos to the west andAlonnisos to the east.
According to the legend, Skopelos was founded byStaphylos (Greek for grape), one of the sons of the godDionysos and the princessAriadne ofCrete. Historically, in the LateBronze Age the island, then known as Peparethos or Peparethus (Ancient Greek:Πεπάρηθος),[2] was colonised by the Minoans, who introducedviticulture to the island.
Perhaps because of the legend of its founding by the son of the god of wine, the island was known throughout the ancient Greek cities of theMediterranean Sea for its wine. The playPhiloctetes (first performed at theFestival of Dionysus in 409 BC) bySophocles includes a wine merchant lost on his way to "Peparethos, rich in grapes and wine".
Pliny the Elder, in his bookNatural History[3] writes:
The physician Apollodorus, in the work in which he wrote recommendingKing Ptolemy what wines in particular to drink—for in his time the wines of Italy were not generally known—has spoken in high terms of that of Naspercene in Pontus, next to which he places the Oretic, and then the Aeneatian, the Leucadian, the Ambraciotic, and the Peparethian, to which last he gives the preference over all the rest. However, he states that it enjoyed an inferior reputation, from the fact of its not being considered fit for drinking until it had been kept for six years.
In 1936 excavations in the area ofStaphylos/Velanio uncovered a royal tomb of the era ofMycenaean Greece. The island was briefly under the control of thecity-stateChalcis,Euboea since at least the 8th century BC.
In turn, the island would come under the political influence or direct domination of:
Albanians also settled on the island, thereafter assimilating into the Greek population.[4]
Skopelos became part of theFirst Hellenic Republic under theLondon Protocol confirming itssovereignty (3 February 1830).[5] DuringWorld War II, Skopelos fell underAxis occupation. At first, it was occupied by theKingdom of Italy (June 1941 – September 1943) and then byNazi Germany (September 1943 – October 1944). Skopelos and the rest of Greece returned to a democratic-style government in 1944.
Skopelos has the shape of asaxophone, with the "neck" pointing northwest, and the "bell" lying on the east. There are not many bays and natural harbors, and cliffs steeply fall into the sea in the greatest part of the coast. Mountains dominate the western and eastern parts of the island. There are several plains; in Staphylos, Ditropon, and Panormos. The main port of Skopelos can sometimes be closed due to northerlygales. The smaller bays ofStaphylos,Agnondas on the south coast and Panormos on the west offer better protection. The municipality has an area of 96.299 square kilometres (37.181square miles).[6]
The main port and municipal center of the island (Skopelos orChora) is situated in the bay on the northern coast. It is noted for its architectural heritage. On the census of 2011, it had 3,090 inhabitants.
The second largest settlement isGlossa village, situated on the northwestern tip of the island, just above Loutraki harbour, with an elevation ranging from 200 to 300 m (656 to 984 ft). It is 25.4 km (15.8 mi) from Skopelos town. It is a tranquil village with traditional houses, with 993 residents.
Neo Klima or "Elios" is apurpose-built village constructed after the great 1965 earthquake to resettle the displaced residents of the severely damaged village of (Old) Klima. It is situated by the coast on the west side of the island. The village had 463 inhabitants in the 2001 census.
Other settlements include Stafylos, Agnondas, Panormos, Ananias, Klima, Atheato, Loutraki, Kalogiros, and Myloi.
The economy of Skopelos is now fully dependent on thetourism industry,[7][8][9][10] which supports construction and other development related industries. Though tourism is greatest during the summer months, Skopelos is also a year-round retirement destination forNorthern Europeans. Some residents expected an increase in tourism due to the filming ofMamma Mia! on the island in September 2007.
Agriculture, once a staple of the local economy, is in decline.Plum andalmond orchards exist but are less extensive than in the past. Wine production from localgrape has been minimal ever since thephylloxera blight of the 1940s destroyed the vineyards. Though there is local small-scalewine production using local grapes, most wine produced on the island is for home use and much ispressed from grapes imported fromThessaly. Herding ofdomestic goats anddomestic sheep continues and a localfeta type cheese (katiki) is produced from these stocks.Beekeeping and honey production have increased in recent years. Skopelos supports a smallfishing fleet which fishes local waters.
The island once had a vital woodenshipbuilding industry and contributed many ships to theWar of Greek Independence (1821–1831). Shipbuilding began to decline after the introduction ofsteamships. TheEncyclopædia Britannica Eleventh Edition (1911) stated "Almost every householder in both islands (Skopelos andSkiathos) is the owner, joint owner or skipper of a sailing ship." Today the art of building ships and boats in the traditional style is virtually nonexistent and is seen only in the repairing of small wooden vessels. Skopelos cannot support its population with locally produced food and goods. Most of what is used and consumed must be imported by ship from the mainland. Prices for food and consumer goods reflect the added expense of transportation. Therefore purchases of food and drink run 10 percent higher in Skopelos than on the mainland. Most building materials, includingsand, must also be imported.Gasoline or petrol costs are, at minimum, 15 percent higher than on the mainland.
Skopelos is amatrilineal society. Wealth is passed on via the female line. By custom, the parents of each Skopelitan bride provide the new couple with at least a house and some property. The house and property remain in the bride's name. This custom is particularly insular as in most other parts of Greece, especially on the mainland andCrete, wealth ispatrilineal.
Skopelos is one of the greenest islands in theAegean Sea. The island has a wide range of flowers, trees, and shrubs. The local vegetation is chiefly made up of forests ofAleppo pines (Pinus halepensis),Kermes oaks (Quercus coccifera), a small forest ofHolm oaks (Quercus ilex), Oleo-Ceratonion maquis, fruit trees, and olive groves. The pine forests on Skopelos have replaced oak species that predominated in the past; this is due to a preference for pine trees since their timber is widely used for ship construction.
As "The Green and Blue Island", Skopelos lags behind urban Greece in rubbishrecycling andsewage treatment. Currently, there is a rubbish recycling program in Skopelos. Solid and hazardous waste is deposited in alandfill or dumped unofficially on untended public or private land. Periodically families ofRomani people come to Skopelos to collectscrap metal from areas around the island where trash has been illegally dumped. The scrap metal is removed from the island by lorry and sold on the mainland. Beer and bulk wine bottles are recycled by the distributors. There is a deposit collected for each bottle at the time of purchase which is redeemed upon return.
The sources of the municipal water supply are various spring-fed tanks located around the island. The three island communities supply water within a limited but expanding part of their jurisdictions. Homes outside the municipal water system use wells or cisterns to collect rainwater. There are plans to construct an artificial lake in the area of Panormos to supply water to farmers. Privatewater wells supply some agricultural needs and water from these wells can be transported by lorry to outlying areas to refillcisterns or swimming pools. The municipal water is good quality. As most natural sources of water in limestone environments, the water has a highcalcium content.
Over the past 30 years, residents have begun to usesolar collectors for hot water. With about 2,400 hours of sunlight per year, Skopelos has the potential to increase its solar energy use and to develop alternative sources of energy that make use of frequent and steady northerly wind. Major construction and mass tourism development projects for hotels and tourist housing have not yet embraced the concept of alternative resources. Most recently built projects rely on electricity generated on the mainland, even for hot water.
Skopelos has a variety of fauna – including about 60 bird species including migrants.[12] There are several birds of prey, most common being theEleonora's falcon,[13] theEurasian scops owl and thecommon buzzard. Also to be seen arekestrels,[which?]eagles, andvultures, and very obvious throughout the island is thehooded crow. Occasionallygrey herons andcommon kingfishers and, more commonly, thegreat cormorant, theherring gull and theyellow-legged gull are seen along the coast. In March 2007 the Municipal Authorities cleaned awetland habitat near the town beach at the outlet to the sea of Skopelos' only permanently flowing stream. The area had been home to frogs and the birds that fed on them.
The Northern Sporades are one of the prime breeding areas of theMediterranean monk seal, an endangered species.[14][15] The main threat to the seal population is human activities. Often deliberately killed or accidentally caught in fishing equipment, its food sources are declining also. In addition,marine pollution and uncontrolled tourism are destroying the seal's natural habitat. The establishment in 1992 of the National Marine Park of Alonnissos-Northern Sporades was an effort to protect this species by restricting human encroachment on seal breeding areas. Wild land mammals includestone martens,brown rats andhouse mice, thesouthern white-breasted hedgehog,bats and, though declining in numbers,European hares. A mating pair offallow deer have been privately reintroduced to the island. A population offeralcats exists in and around areas of human habitation.
The island is home to a variety of reptiles. TheBalkan pond turtle can be found near fresh water along with theGreek marsh frog, though this habitat is slowly disappearing due to development. TheErhard's wall lizard is seen regularly in daylight in warm weather and theMediterranean house gecko at night. A larger lizard is theBalkan green lizard. Several species of snakes can be observed: theMontpellier snake, theleopard snake, theCaspian whipsnake, thefour-lined snake, thegrass snake, and thenose-horned viper.
In or near fresh water there is sometimes found theBalkan frog and theEuropean tree frog. Near or away from water there arecommon toads.
The island has its own acknowledged breed of goat (Αίγα Σκοπέλου),[16] named after it. The Skopelos goat is one breed in the southern multicoloured group. It is a relative of the wild goat of the island ofGioura. The main occurrences of this species are in Skopelos,[17][18]Alonissos andSkiathos. Sheep herds on the island belong to a distinctive group called the "Skopelos Sheep" breed.[19]
The town of Skopelos was honoured as a Traditional Settlement of Outstanding Beauty (19/10/1978 Presidential Decree 594,13-11/78, signed byPresident of GreeceKonstantinos Tsatsos). This is the Greek equivalent of a site of Outstanding Architectural Inheritance. The building code for new construction and renovation within the village reflects some restrictions due to the Traditional Settlement decree. Some restrictions stipulate that no new buildings shall be more than two stories, there must be a sloped ceramic or stone roof in the traditional style, and doors, windows, and balconies be made of wood.
The island has more than 360 churches and chapels. Most are closed throughout the year except for the feast day of to whom or whatever the church has been dedicated, and the majority have been privately built. The oldest existing ecclesiastical structure is the Basilica of Agios Athanasios, built in the 11th century and located in the Kastro area. All except one of the churches on the island observe theGreek Orthodox faith. The remaining church hosts a small enclave ofJehovah's Witnesses. Christianity was formalized in Skopelos by the appointment of the BishopRiginos in the 4th century. Under the Reign of the EmperorJulian the Apostate, Riginos was martyred in 362 AD. The saint's feast day is February 25 — a holiday on the island.
Car ownership in Greece increased by 121% between 1990 and 2004.[20] Skopelos reflects this trend and the local authorities are hard pressed to deal with the increased traffic and parking issues. Along with the resident population of cars, the burden of tourist and summer resident vehicles and the availability of rental cars and motorbikes have created problems for which solutions have not yet been found. The construction of a large asphalt parking area along the waterfront in the late 1990s has done little to address the parking problems facing the town of Skopelos. During the summer the population of the island increases from about 5,000 to between 15,000 and 20,000 (est. 1993).
Skopelos has one main road that links the three main villages bycoach several times daily.
In the mid-1980s the mayor's council voted to apply to the Ministry of the Interior for the construction of anairport. The application was denied. There is aheliport in case of medical emergencies.
The island is served by commuterhydrofoils andferryboats from the ports ofVolos,Magnesia andAgios Konstantinos, Phthiotis on mainland Greece,[21] which also allows connections to and fromAlonissos andSkiathos. In summer there is a ferry to and fromKymi inEuboea.
The province of Skopelos (Greek:Επαρχία Σκοπέλου) was one of theprovinces of theMagnesia Prefecture. Its territory corresponded with that of the current regional unitSporades, and included the islands Skopelos,Skiathos,Alonnisos.[22] It was abolished in 2006.
The length of the coastline of Skopelos is 67 km (42 mi). Due to the island's mountainous terrain most of the coast is inaccessible.[23] The following are beaches accessible by road or trail:Staphylos, Velanio (officialnudism beach since 2011),Agnondas, Limnonari, Panormos,Adrines, Milia, Kastani, Elios, Hovolo, Armenopetra, Kalives, Glyfoneri, Glysteri, Perivoliou, Keramoto, and Chondrogiorgos.
Skopelos and its neighbourSkiathos were the filming locations of the 2008 filmMamma Mia![33][34] The wedding procession was filmed at the Agios Ioannis Chapel nearGlossa.[35]
Ancient Peparethos had become Skopelos by Ptolemaic times
Media related toSkopelos at Wikimedia Commons
Skopelos travel guide from WikivoyageAdministrative division of theThessaly Region | ||
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| Regional unit ofKarditsa |  | |
| Regional unit ofLarissa | ||
| Regional unit ofMagnesia | ||
| Regional unit of theSporades | ||
| Regional unit ofTrikala | ||
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| Adriatic Sea |
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| Ionian Islands and dependencies |
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| Mainland Greece |
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| Aegean Islands |
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