Apano Meria

Ano Syros is the medieval upper town on the hill northwest above Ermoupoli. The Venetians founded it at the beginning of the 13th century; its houses stand close together like the walls of a fortress, and gates formerly sealed off the town against pirate attacks. Cars remain outside; alleys, vaulted passages, and marble steps lead through the town.Ano Syros remains predominantly Catholic to this day and is the seat of the Diocese of Syros and Milos. On the summit stands the Cathedral Agios Georgios; below it lie the Capuchin Monastery, the Jesuit Monastery, and – with Agios Nikolaos ton Ftochon – the older of the town's two Orthodox churches. The Rembetiko musician Markos Vamvakaris was born in Ano Syros in 1905, and a small museum commemorates him. From the terraces, the view extends over Ermoupoli to Tinos, Delos, Paros, and Naxos.

Kini is a small fishing village on the west coast of Syros. The sandy beach is right in front of the village, and fishing and excursion boats anchor in the small harbour next to it. The waterside tavernas are known for fresh fish, and Kini is considered one of the best places on the island to watch the sunset.Just to the north lies the quieter beach of Delfini. From Kini, boat trips depart to the secluded coves in the north of the island. About a kilometre outside, perched on a hill, is the Agia Varvara Monastery, founded around 1900, featuring icons depicting the life of Saint Barbara, embroideries, and views over the bay.

Syros is located in the heart of the Cyclades and, unlike many neighbouring islands, does not primarily rely on tourism. Its main town, Ermoupoli, is the capital of the Cyclades and the South Aegean region. In the 19th century, it was Greece's most important commercial and industrial port until Piraeus surpassed it, and the city has preserved the Neoclassicism of that era.Instead of white cube houses, you'll find marble squares, an opera house, and shipowner mansions here. Additionally, Ano Syros features a Catholic upper town from the Venetian era. If you're seeking a Cycladic town with year-round daily life, this is the place.

Galissas is located on the west coast, about eight kilometers from Ermoupoli, and is considered the island's first seaside resort. The village stretches around a bay with one of Syros' longest sandy beaches; the water is shallow and clear, and tamarisks provide shade. The beach holds the Blue Flag award and is well-suited for families.The area was already settled in antiquity; the geographer Strabon names Galissas as one of the main cities of ancient Syros. On the hill at the edge of the bay stands the chapel of Agia Pakou, offering views over both beaches, and behind it, a short path leads to the quiet bay of Armeos. A little further on, in a sea cave above the sea, lies the chapel of Agios Stefanos, accessible via a path or by boat.

Poseidonia, in the southwest of Syros, is named after the sea god Poseidon, but is often still called Della Grazia, after the Catholic Church Madonna della Grazia. In the 19th century, the place was the summer retreat for wealthy families from Ermoupoli. From this period, neoclassical villas stand here in large gardens with pine trees, along with the light blue painted church of Agios Ioannis Prodromos from 1876 with a freestanding bell tower.A few minutes' walk away lies Agathopes, one of the island's most popular beaches, with fine sand and shallow, clear water. Further south follows the small, wilder bay of Komito, north, the village of Finikas with a beach and marina.