Places to stay

«Roots» (Simpotama, tel: 6944730869, www.hotelrizes.gr).

«Coco-Mat Eco Residences Serifos» (Vagia, tel: 22877-72977, 6948303164, serifos.coco-mat-hotels.com).

«Maroussa’s Apartments» (Ramos, tel: 22810-51807, 6948 463846, www.westcyclades.com).

«Selana Apartments» (Livadi, τηλ.: 2281051208, 6942 555838, www.westcyclades.com).

«Alexandros - Vassilia» (Livadakia beach, tel.: 22810-51119, 22810-51903, 2109888766, 210-5615456, 6946 910840, www.alexandros-vassilia.gr).

«Alisaxni» (Avlomonas, tel.: 22810-51914, 6973 820795, www.e-kyklades.gr).

«Serifos Palace» (Livadakia, tel.: 2281051391, 52389, 6933 015977, 6932 191883, www.westcyclades.com).

«Astarti» (Livadi, tel.: 22810-51042, 6977 598119, http://astartiserifos.com).

«Coralli Camping & Bungalows Serifos» (Livadakia, τηλ.: 22810-51500, www.corallicamping.gr & www.corallibungalows.gr)

Where to eat

In Megalo livadi:

«O Kiklopas (Cyclops)» (the menu includes braised goat with pasta, chickpea soup, fennel pancakes, roasted pork with apples and quince, fresh fish and pasta with lobster).

In livadi:

«Takis» (the menu includes fresh fish, fish soup, tuna salad, and cooked food. There is also a rich selection of wines).

«Bakakaki» (the menu includes fennel pancakes, grilled cheese with pastarma, giaourtlou (sauce with yoghurt), pancetta and galotyri (a type of cheese).

«Marina» (fresh fish, sea food and local delicacies).

«Porto Vecckio» (Italian pizza restaurant).

In Chora:

«Peter» near the Mills (the menu includes fried meatballs, lemon veal and local delicacies).

«Marathoriza» (fennel pancakes with honey).

«Aloni» (the menu includes braised goat, kontosouvli (pork meat on a spit roasted over coals), fennel pancakes, mastelo (a type of cheese) and sun-dried tomatoes).

«Stou Stratou (At Stratos’)» (offers mouthwatering platters and desserts).

«Oi Plakes» (the menu includes tender lamb chops and local meat on the grill).

«Luis» (for traditional delicacies accompanied with local wine or souma).

«Aerino (Airy)» (for dessert, coffee, drinks and music).

«To Balkoni (The Balcony)» on the way to Chora (for coffee and drinks, the restaurant offers a spectacular view).

In avlomonas:

«Margarita (Daisy)» (roasted goat and cooked food).

In livadakia Beach: «Alexandros - Vasileia» (for roasted and cooked food).

In Platis Gialos: part from its natural beauty, this place has its own rich history... The first houses of the settlement were built around 1880 A.C., and a short time later, the company Serifos – Spiliazeza, established by the French Mining Company of Lavrio, built their headquarters there.

«Nikoulias» (for sea food, cooked food and roasted meat, the restaurant overlooks the beach of Platis Gialos).

In 1885, the German metallurgist Aimilios Grosman signed a contract with the company and took over the operation of the mines. His son and afterwards his grandson continued his work. On the edge of the shore, stands the dilapidated imposing building (built according to Ziller’s architectural design) that used to serve as Groman’s headquarters. A little further away is the modest marble Heroon, dedicated to the four miners that lost their lives defending their rights during the bloody strike on August 21st 1916. The chemistry, the school, the shoemaker’s workshop, the grocery stores, the bakeries and the labourers’ homes used to be located here, in the valley of Megalo Livadi. During the peak of their operation, 700 labourers were working at the mines, both local men and men from Paros, Amorgos, Mykonos, Karpathos, as well as metallurgists

On the way back to Chora from Megalo Livadi, a stop is in order at the White Tower (4th century B.C.). These are the ruins of a tower constructed with local white marble, standing at the edge of a cliff, offering a majestic view of the north-western coast of the island. The tower was used as a “friktoria (lookout) sending signals to other lookouts in the area. The church of Agios Charalambos is located next to the tower.

taste of Serifos...

Local delicacies such as marathotiganites or marathokeftedes (fennel pancakes), revithada cooked in a clay pot (chickpea soup), kappari giachni (stewed capers), string beans, louza (a type of cured meat), fava are available all over the island. Salads are rich in vegetables and are served with capers and local cheese (xinomizithra (sour mizitrha cheese), or mizithra with pepper). The Papadopoulou cheese dairy is located in Livadi. The locals chink their glasses, which are reguarly filled with local wine from the winery of Christos Chrisoloras (Ksiro Chorio) or souma (a type of raki wine). Local desserts include the pastaki from abroad. To get a taste of the old days, guests can walk around the old railways, the rusty wagons, the steps, where cargo used to be loaded onto the ships, and the old stone buildings, indisputable witnesses to an important period of the island. A spring with lukewarm thermal water can be found near the loading steps, at the area of “Almyros”. That is where Groman built a spa for the labourers to use for therapeutic reasons.

An exhibition of Minerals and Mining Tools offered by the Municipality of Serifos, is at display on the beach of Megalo Livadi. Visiting the exhibition provides guests with information about the history of iron mining that has been going on in Serifos since ancient times. It went on during the Venetian Occupation and picked up pace between 1880 and 1963. Reminders of this era are scattered throughout the island in places such as Megalo Livadi, Mega Chorio (Big Village), Koytalas, Avessalos. The mines were shut down in July 1963 due to major landfalls.

When it is time to rest, the taverna “Kyklopas”, located on the beach of Megalo Livadi, offers a number of scrumptious delicacies. A spectacular sunset awaits guests who decide to spend their afternoon in this area.

(a type of creamy cake), marzipans, the pasteli (a bar made of sesame and honey) served on lemon leaves, and sweet preserves.

Other things to look out for are thyme honey, local hard cheese (laoumisio), capers and marzipans. During the begining of August, the “Andromeda” Women Association of Serifos host a bazaar with local products including sweet preserves, marmalade, liqueurs and aromatic herbs. As happens with most events, this bazaar offers an excellent opportunity for celebration!

Best beaches to visit

Favourite beaches of the island include the Karavi (Boat), Psili Ammos, Agios Ioannis, Agios Sostis, Sykamia, Ganema, Vagia, Koutalas, Malliadiko, Megalo Livadi, Avessalos, and Avlomonas.

Ways to get there

There are daily schedules of ships leaving the port of Piraeus heading to Serifos. The trip takes four hours, while the faster ships make the trip in less than three hours. Information: Piraeus

Port Authority: 210-4172675, 231-2147600. Serifos Port Authority: 22810-51470.

A sense of peace and serenity fills guests, as soon as they lay eyes on the beautiful landscape of this Cycladic island.