SYROS | GREEK ISLANDS | CYCLADES

The island has about 16,700 inhabitants and its capital Ermoupoli is the business and administrative headquarters of the Cyclades. An elegant town spread over two hills, it reminds one of a European town of the last century. Each hill has a different character: the lower one with its neo-classical mansions and public buildings, its spacious squares and the gracious Vaporia district where the Orthodox reside, while the Catholics are concentrated in the walled medieval city, Ano Syros. At Finika and Dellagratsia (Poseidonia) there are a few stately homes left over from the mid 19th c., when Syros was Greece’s busiest port. While there are plenty of sandy beaches, the best ones are found on the west coast between Cape Grammata and Finika and Megas Gialos. Caiques leave from Kini and Ermoupoli for the lovely deserted beaches to the north-west. Ermoupoli has a casino if you’re feeling lucky.