Webcam Skiros. Port of Linaria
Skyros is an island in Greece, in the Aegean Sea, the largest and southernmost of the islands of the archipelago of the Northern Sporades. It has an area of 208.594 square kilometers and a coastline of 136 kilometers. Administratively, it is part of the community of the same name (dym) in the peripheral unit of Evia in the periphery of Central Greece.
The island is situated almost in the center of the Aegean Sea. Skiros is reached by ferry from Kimi in Evia (24 nautical miles), and from Volos in Thessaly. Skiros has an airport which serves local airlines.
On the west coast of the island is the harbor Linaria. Near Linaria there is an iron ore deposit. There are caves to the northeast of Linaria harbor. There are 5-6 of them and they are about 18 kilometers away from the harbor. The largest of them is Pentekali. Diatripi is another cave with two entrances.
The island grows grapes, olives, breeds sheep and goats. Fishing is developed in the waters around the island. A large part of the inhabitants are engaged in serving tourists. A large part of the inhabitants are occupied with catering for tourists.
After the conquest of Constantinople by the Crusaders and the foundation of the Latin Empire in 1204, Skyros was included in the domain of the Latin emperor, but in 1207 became the possession of the Venetian nobleman Jeremia Ghisi, brother of Andrea Ghisi, who ruled over Tinos and Mykonos.
From the middle of the 15th century Skyros became a Venetian possession. The Venetians built the fortresses of Paliokastro, Markesi, Kastro (Κάστρο) and Kalamitsa on the island. In 1538 the Turks conquered Skyros. The island remained under Ottoman rule until 1821. In 1821 the inhabitants of the island took an active part in the National Liberation Revolution (1821-1829). In 1829, together with the rest of Sporades, the island was liberated and became part of Greece.
