Syros

A tiny dot in the Cyclades Islands, Syros shimmers in the Aegean Sea, surrounded by a circle of Cycladic isles such as sisiter isle Tinos, Serifos, Mykonos, Paros and Sifnos. Like all island adventures, the best way to arrive in Syros is by via classic Greek, sun-drenched ferry crossing from the port of Piraeus, Athens or if you’re island-hopping you might come from a hub such as Mykonos, Santorini or Tinos.

Either way, you’ll step onto Syros soil at the port capital Ermoupoli / Hermoupolis where an amphitheatre of cascading Venetian houses in pastel-hues will greet you. Named after the god of trade, Hermes, Ermoupoli will impress you with its neo-classical magnificence – marble squares, a hilltop cathedral, sea captains’ houses and its town hall designed by Bavarian architect Ziller. Syros was founded by the refugees of the 19^th century Greek revolution; today the city of Ermoupoli/Hermoupolis still holds its own as a commercial centre of the Cyclades. Clasped in the hillside above Ermoupoli is medieval settlement Ano Syros, a romantic tangle of cobbled streets, which open out onto panoramic views over the Aegean and its islands. Despite the busyness of its capital, the island retains a quiet way of life, potter around and discover wineries, eat at beachside tavernas and listen to the strains of local rebetiko music. Best of all, the rocky coastline gives way to countless pockets of sandy and pebbly beaches, licked by that irresistible Aegean water.