Alonissos
(Liadromia) is a picturesque green island of the Northern
Sporades, which covers an area of 64 square kilometers. The
rest of the area, of 80 sq. km is covered by the following small islands
that surround it (Peristera 16 sq.
km, Kyra-Panagia 25 sq. km, Gioura
14 sq. km, Skantzoura 12 sq. km,
Piperi 8 sq. km, Psathoura
1 sq. km, Dio Adelfi 3 sq. km etc).
The highest point of the island
is the mountain Kouvouli with an
altitude of 476 meters with smaller mountains consisting of Geladias
456 m, Tourkovigla 343 m, Kalovoulos
355 m, Vouno 255 m etc.
The inhabited area consists
of Patitiri, which is the capital
of Alonissos, the adjacent villages of Rsoum
and Votsi and also old
Alonissos and the seaside resorts of Steni-vala
and Kalamakia. It is in these settlements
that the population of about 3000 people is mainly spread. There are
also many isolated cottages, as well, as small picturesque churches.
Alonissos is covered with pine trees,
olive trees, almond-trees, holm oaks, mastic-trees, arbutus bushes
and also fruit-bearing trees.
Its
clear sea, dreamy coasts,
bays, vegetation, the inhabitants traditional hospitality and the
calm, cool atmosphere make Alonissos a place where someone can really
rest during one' s summer holidays
and come back into daily life refreshed
and full of new impressions.
Administratively
the island is attached to the province of Skopelos,
which is a part of the Prefecture
of Magnesia, while religiously belonging
to the Metropolis of Chalkis.
The
island has a sub-directorate of its own, Constabulary, Customhouse,
telecommunications office, Public Electric Works office and Post office.
There is also an elementary school of six grades as well as a junior
and senior high school.
HISTORY
Alonissos,
third in size of the Northern Sporades,
has taken its name after the liberation of Greece from Turkish tyranny
and the establishment of the New Greek nation. In ancient times Alonissos
was called IKOS
and it is possible that Alonissos was once the name of the small island
of Kyra-Panagia.
The relics
of prehistorical times that are
found on Alonissos such as Cyclopean walls, fortifications, Charnel
- houses etc. show us how little we know about the island, the history
of which is so old that can easily be forgotten as the centuries pass
by.
It
is positively known that like all the islands of the Northern Sporades,
the Dollops
populated Alonissos, who were related to the tribe of Pelasgi, who
with the passing of time were changed into dangerous pirates,
who plagued the Aegean Sea.
The Athenian fleet under the command of Kimonos
challenged them resulting in the defeat and annexation of all the
islands to the Athenian State. Later on, the Macedonian
King Philip had an eye on Alnicos; a
fact that compelled the great orator of ancient times Demosthenes
to write his fiery speech "About Alonissos".
During the Byzantine Empire,
Alonissos flourished, a fact made known to us by the monuments of
that period, which to this day attract the attention of the visitors.
The island was in these times conquered by the Francs,
who completed the existing fortification.
Finally,
it submitted like the rest of Greece to the Turks.
Under Turkish tyranny, the island was deprived of any special interest.
The inhabitants were few and agricultural production small. The island
depended more on the neighboring, more populated island of Skopelos.
It
is only now, in recent years, that the island is flourishing and it
owes this to its clear waters, beautiful
coastline, pine-clad areas and the hospitality of its inhabitants. More information on AlonissosTravel Guide from Greek Island Postcards.