We Suggest
Explore the live museum of Syros, the prehistorical sites, the medieval buildings of Ano Syros, the catholic monasteries, the neoclassical Hermoupolis, the Orthodox and Catholic Cathedrals churches and the monuments that will lure you to a different period in time.
The central location of the island made Syros one of the most important ports in the Eastern Mediterranean during the 19th century, soon turning it into the commercial, administrative and cultural center of the Cyclades island complex. Hermoupolis still resembles an open-air museum, a live monument of neoclassical architecture with relics and cultural treasures worth discovering. From the medieval city of Ano Syros, the ancient monuments of the Early Cycladic period in Kastri, the municipality of Syros-Hermoupolis, the Apollon Theater resembling Scala di Milano, the Orthodox and Catholic coexistence as well as the various influences from Asia Minor and all the way to the machine center in Neorion operating since 1861, Syros is a unique place of everlasting historical tradition and culture.
Today Syros with its capital Hermoupolis is an island gem with a well-developed economy, tourism and agricultural production while the operation of the shipyard, of public services, of the Department of product and systems design engineering at the University of the Aegean as well, contribute to the long-term development of the island.
The cemetery of St. George is a monumental symbol of the island and of its great cultural heritage that was built in 1837.
This is a cemetery reflecting the history and culture of the magnificent island of Syros in its exquisite mausoleums and beautifully decorated tombstones. The most imposing tombs belong to important personalities of the island like Mavrokordatos, Benakis, Antoniadis and Rodokanakis.
The inscriptions on the monuments unveil characteristics from the lives and homeland of the desists while the decoration details indicates the power, prestige and origin. The cemetery of St. George is divided into 7 sections while the 56 mausoleums congregate in a separate area on the northeast side.
The incredible monuments are signed by important Greek as well as Italian artists & sculptors such as Fytalis, Vitalis, Spanos and A. Canessa. Among other monuments many marble tombs, shrines, sculpted angel figures, crosses, Ionic and Doric monuments, chapels, ciboria with 4 Doric or Ionic columns, tombstones, headstones and tomb epigrams primarily inspired by folk songs and dirges stand out.
Look at: https://www.syrosisland.gr/en/mausoleum/
Syros museums
The Museum of Markos Vamvakaris in Syros / Cyclades
Location: Ano Syros.
https://www.syrosisland.gr/en/place/markos-vamvakaris-museum/
The museum of Markos Vamvakaris is located at the central road of Ano Syros, known as Agiou Sevastianou St. The museum opened was founded in 1995 in a two storey building, in memory of this prestigious musician. Markos Vamvakaris was a great composer, born in Ano Syros in the year 1905. He was actually the leading personality in rebetiko music (folklore music of the 1930s) and famous not only in Greece but also beyond the borders for his songs, like the well-known Frangosyriani.
The museum displays many of his personal objects, including photographs, souvenirs, his passport, his identity card, his clothes and especially his 50 pairs of shoes. There are also manuscripts, his ring, his watch, pliers and small knives. These objects were kindly offered to the museum by his family.
The Archaeological Museum of Syros, Cyclades
Location: Ermoupolis
https://www.syrosisland.gr/en/place/hermoupolis-archaeological-museum/
The Archaeological Museum of Syros is housed in the Town Hall in the centre of Hermoupolis, with independent entrance on the western side of the building. Founded in 1834, this is among the oldest museums of Greece. At first it was established as the central museum of Cyclades and hosted archaeological exhibits from all the islands. However, with the establishment of smaller local museums, the majority of exhibits were distributed to the islands and the Archaeological Museum of Syros today hosts findings from Syros, Amorgos and Kythnos.
Most exhibits in this museum come from the ancient site of Chalandriani, dating from the 3rd millennium BC, that is called the early Cycladic period. Very important are also the exhibits from the 600 Hellenistic graves that were also excavated in the close region. Apart from these, the museum includes random exhibits from Syros, few grave columns and some sculptures, including an Egyptian statuette of black granite.
The Industrial Museum of Ermoupolis
Location: Ermoupolis https://www.syrosisland.gr/en/place/hermoupolis-industrial-museum/
The Industrial Museum of Ermoupolis is next to the beautiful neoclassical buildings of Ermoupolis, the capital of Syros, and close to the dockyard is the industrial zone. These factories were famous and productive till a few decades ago, but today they remain closed. In three of these factories (a paint factory, a buckshot factory and a tannery), the municipality of Syros established in 2000 an interesting Industrial Museum. This museum depicts the industrial and economical development of the island from the 18th until the middle 20th century. There is a large collection of photos, maps and architectural designs that show the flourishing of the neoclassical architecture in Syros. Visitors can also see pictures of local painters depicting the island in the 19th century, products of women association from the early 20th century and a digital representation of public and industrial buildings. Among the most interesting exhibits of this museum are the almost 20 well-preserved pieces of machinery that were used till some decades ago. These pieces are preserved exclusively in Syros and they are accompanied by hand tools, first material and products from the time of the industrial development in Syros. Frequently, the museum hosts interesting exhibitions.
The Center for Historical Studies of the Catholic Diocese of Syros.
Location: Ano Syros, at the top of the hill, near the cathedral of Saint George.
The Centre occupies the building which was once the Catholic seminary. It was founded in 1986 to study the historical source material of Syros and the Cyclades. There is an exhibition of documents and historical items, rare editions from 16th to 19th century and a small but very important museum of particular interest are the showcases containing the tools used for making hosts, the three wooden semantra (beaten with a hammer and corresponding to bells) carried in procession through the town on Good Friday, and the historical documents relating to Syros.
Through the old books we can see some one hundred contain texts in Frankochiotika – that is, Greek written in Latin characters- and there are samples of the works published by local printers
Excursions at the north of Syros:
Following the old paths of Apano Meria: https://www.hikingteam.gr/category/google-earth-paths/
Boat tour : http://www.greekguide.com/en/syros/boat-tour/e/110139464021
Visit and protect the landscape of Apano Meria: http://www.apanomeria.org
Cultural events in the summer time:
Mostre / Opera / Musica / Teatro
Look at:
https://www.syrosisland.gr/en/event/the-island-of-festivals/