Discovering Sifnos: A Timeless Island Blending Tradition with Culinary Excellence

Sifnos, although it has been in the center of attention several times, resisted mass tourism. Development changed many things, but the island remained intact. The new was integrated into the traditions of the place, as the Sifnians preserved their identity; they did not change themselves. They invite visitors to embrace and respect life on their island.

Familiar yet majestic. A place of poets and a homeland of flavors. Here, the famous chef Nikolaos Tselementes was born, as well as poets Ioannis Gryparis, Kleantis Triantafyllou, Aristomenis Provelengios. Small, but with beautiful villages and history to explore. It is only 15 km long and 7.5 km wide, with 14 scattered settlements. It cherishes folk architecture – at least until recently. It inspires gastronomic journeys with dishes that require patience, slow-cooked and flavorful.

From the more cosmopolitan Apollonia, filled with shops, bars, restaurants, and the picturesque neighborhood of Katavati, just a kilometer away, you arrive at Artemonas, with its mansions and streets adorned with bougainvilleas. Look for the traditional pastry workshop Theodorou (Tel: [phone]) to try Sifnian almond sweets. Every year in September, the Sifnos Cycladic Gastronomy Festival “Nikolaos Tselementes” is organized here (19-21/09/2024). Go down to the villages of Ano and Kato Petali and continue on the road to the Castle and Seralia – the ancient port of Sifnos. Exambela, one of the largest villages in Sifnos, is on the way to Faro and Platy Gialo. Look for traces of ancient towers – the fire towers, from the 6th century B.C. – churches, old windmills. Visit the Monastery of Panagia Vryssiani (1642), which houses a Museum of Ecclesiastical Art (Tel: [phone]).

You will definitely pass by Kamaras, as it is the modern port of the island. The seaside village is ideal for swimming, eating, entertainment, and activities. Here you will find the Black Cave, a climbing field with 14 routes, ideal for beginners and some more technical and interesting ones for advanced climbers. The rock consists of high-quality gray and red limestone. The grades range from 5c – 6c+.

Where to Swim

If you have visited other Aegean islands, you wouldn’t say Sifnos has the best beaches – at least at first glance. With 70 km of coastline, it has many small bays accessible by road, paths, or from the sea. It also allows travelers to visit more than one beach in the same day.

• The most cosmopolitan beach is Platy Gialos, which attracts a lot of people because it has many restaurants and cafes along it. It is organized, with sunbeds and umbrellas but also free space. Vathy is the island’s large sandy beach. On its right side, after the chapel of Taxiarchis, the beach continues. Here, there is a small settlement where you can find tavernas. The Kamaras beach, next to the port, nevertheless has clear shallow waters, a large sandy beach, tamarisks for shade, food-drink by the sea, and beach games.
• Favorites among regular visitors to the island. The small beach of Chrysomiligra lies below the cliffs of the Monastery of Chrysomiligra, on the right side of the bay. On the left side lies Apokofto, where you will also find tavernas for food. The three beaches of Faro: the one named after the village, Glyfo, and Fassolou, each has its own audience.
  
• More remote, in the northern part of the island, Cherronisos and the more adventurous (to reach) Broulidia deserve your attention. So do the beaches on the left side of the bay of Vathy – which are accessible by path and give a sense of not being isolated.

Where to Eat

• Combining old with new: NOS (Tel: [phone]) combines tradition with modern techniques in dishes that support sustainability and locality. Cantina (cantinasifnos.gr) uniquely showcases Sifnian cuisine with wood oven dishes, fresh fish, and seafood. Here, utilizing materials without waste is the restaurant’s operational method, which uniquely highlights local flavors. Atmospheric space in an old canteen with just minor interventions. Bostani (Tel: [phone]) operates within the Verina Astra hotel and introduces fusion cuisine to the people of Sifnos.
• For a relaxed atmosphere: In the Castle, in a wonderful location overlooking Seralia, you will find Loggia Wine Bar (Tel: [phone]). In a space that used to house a tavern, today, in addition to selected wines from the Greek vineyard, you will also enjoy delicious cheeses from various regions of the country, local products, and a unique sunset. The meze restaurant Perivoli in Artemonas serves special meze dishes.
• Essential stops: Brunch on the terrace of the all-time classic Botzi (Tel: [phone]). The restaurant Ta Broulidia (Tel: [phone]) for simple, traditional, home-style cooking in a simple, clean, and tidy environment.
  

What to See

• Architecture and cultural monuments of centuries: The island has many places of historical and architectural significance, dating back to the Bronze Age. During the Classical Period, it is believed to have influenced decision-making. It was a crossroads of various cultures and influences, as it was in a critical point in the Cyclades and had significant metallurgical and mining activity due to gold and silver mines. The Acropolis of Agios Andreas and the ancient fire towers that protected the acropolis testify to its strategic position.
  In the ruins of the once thriving mines, visitors can only imagine scenes from their peak times. The settlement of the Castle, which was the island’s capital in antiquity, is an example of medieval fortification architecture and still fascinates visitors with its maze of narrow streets. Entry to the Castle is through the Lozies, the old entrances that secured and prevented access. In the first consecutive houses of the outer wall lived the common people, while within the settlement, the aristocracy did.
• Religious wealth and folk tradition: It has churches and monasteries, many with significant ecclesiastical items, manuscripts, icons, etc. Outside the Castle, the church of the Seven Martyrs, which stands on the rock above the Aegean, is one of the most photographed images of Sifnos. Equally iconic and connected to Sifnos and the Cyclades is the Virgin Mary Chrysomiligra, built on the cape of Faro, on the southeastern coast of the island. It used to be a women’s monastery.
  Also worth noting are the church of Panagia ta Gournia and of Saint Nicholas for the frescoes by the folk icon painter of Sifnos Agapios and of St. George the Master for the icons of 1645, works by the icon painters Zacharias Tzagaropoulos and Konstantinos Palaiokapa in the village of Agios Loukas. The monastery of Panagia Vrysi, which houses the Byzantine Art Museum with various ecclesiastical exhibits. Panagia of Amoudi and Panagia Monachis, with a rare icon of the Virgin Mary without the divine infant.
  The Monastery of Profitis Ilias the High dates back to the 17th century and is located at an altitude of 695 meters. The ascent, which requires determination, takes about two and a half hours and takes place within a protected Natura 2000 area. However, when you reach the top, you will have a view of the Cyclades: Paros, Naxos, Iraklia, Ios, Folegandros, Santorini, Milos, and Kimolos! The feast of Profitis Ilias is famous throughout the Aegean and takes place on July 19.
  
• Sifnian pottery: Sifnos developed and transmitted the art throughout the Cyclades. Functional and decorative vessels date back to the Early Cycladic period. Most of the tsikaladika, as they were called, were located in Artemonas and the surrounding settlements. Over time, when the threat of pirates no longer existed, workshops were established in seaside settlements: in Vathy, Platy Gialo, Kamaras, and Faro. In the pottery workshops that operate today, you will find cooking utensils still used by locals, such as, for example, for mastelo, the meat that is cooked for Easter, and skevastaria, the famous Sifnian revithada, plates and cups, flares (which used to be chimney pots, now more decorative), etc. In Apollonia, the Folklore and Popular Art Museum operates (open daily from April to October, Tel: [phone]).
  

Local’s Tip

• The sifnoswizard.com recommends for the best view on the island to climb to the hill where the church of Agios Andreas is located. From the church’s yard, you can see about half of Sifnos – villages, dry stone walls, towers, monasteries, and even the surrounding islands.
• Discover the two botanical paths of Sifnos: 1st path on the route “Fyrogia – Taxiarchis Skafis,” and 2nd path on the route “Castle-Poulati.”
  Plant identifications have been made by biologist Ourania Papakosta and agronomist Nikiforos Karavos, while the signs were installed by students and teachers from schools in Sifnos.