Skiathos, Aegean island in Northern Sporades, Greece
Skiathos is an island in the Northern Sporades archipelago of the Aegean Sea, featuring more than 60 beaches along its coastline and forested hills inland. The main town sits on the southeastern side, where a natural harbor forms, while the rest of the roughly 48 square kilometers (19 square miles) is marked by pine forests and low mountains.
During the 13th century, the island built a fortress on the Bourtzi peninsula to protect against raiders, later moving its main settlement to the fortified site of Kastro. In the 18th century, the Monastery of Evangelistria was founded and became a refuge for fighters during the Greek War of Independence.
The island takes its name from the ancient Greek word for shadow, referring to the dense pine forests that still cover much of its surface today. Visitors find small roadside chapels scattered everywhere, built by sailors and fishing families in gratitude for safe returns.
Ferry connections from the mainland reach the harbor in the southeast several times daily, while the airport in the northeast of the island receives international arrivals. Most beaches lie on the southern and western coasts and can be reached via a ring road that crosses through the interior.
The Greek writer Alexandros Papadiamantis was born here in 1851 and spent most of his life on the island, which is now commemorated in the museum bearing his name. His works depict the lives of simple fishermen and islanders in the 19th century.
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