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TasTe of harmony
TasTe of CyClades
Travel R
eci pi es
2 Sifnos 3
Welcome to picturesque, delicious Sifnos! The brochure you
are holding is nothing but some recipes. Recipes with
unique ingredients for creating experiences, emotions and
images that you may never come across elsewhere.
Inspiration was drawn from the Sifnian architect of
flavour and our national chef, Nikolaos Tselementes. We
invite you on a brief trip to explore flavours from Sifnos
and we hope you will visit us soon!
Introducti on
4 Sifnos 5
he recipe
3History
According to the legend, Sifnos was the name of
the son of Sounio, hero of Attica. Another version
presents the name Sifnos as being linked to the adjec-
tive sifnos meaning empty, a reference to the many
underground tunnels and mines on the island during
Antiquity. A land rich in gold and silver, Sifnos was the
focal point for ancient tribes, such as the Pelasgians,
the Kares and the Phoenicians, from 3,000 BC. The
major civilizations of the time, the Minoan and the
Mycenaean, depended on this blessed little island, the
richest of all its neighbours according to the historian
Herodotus! Cities and citadels were built on the island,
where ancient gods such as Apollo, Artemis, Dionysus,
Zeus, Pan and the Nymphs were worshipped. Dur-
ing its heyday, the Sifnian Treasury was one of the
most significant works of architectural art. Justifying
its name, the Ionic building whose faade was adorned
by 2 caryatids, was elaborately decorated; work was
completed in 525BC and it was dedicated by the An-
cient Sifnians to the temple of Apollo at Delphi. The
depletion of the precious metals that followed became
shrouded in legend: the inhabitants of the island broke
their promise to the oracle at Delphi and gave a gold-
plated instead of a solid gold egg as an offering. Then
the sea swelled and obliterated the mines! However the
history of Sifnos over the ages never ceased to be rich.
A love for architecture, art and churches stands out, a
passion that led to timeless works and to the birth of
great personalities poets, authors and teachers, who
inspired the whole of Greece.
3 Monuments
The dozens of ancient towers dating from the 6th cen-
tury BC bear witness to the intense activity on the island,
while many monasteries have now become character-
ized as historical monuments. The museums in opera-
tion on the island house its history and captivate the
imagination. At the Sifnos archaeological park and the
museum of Agios Andreas you can make many dates
with history. A project-milestone for the Ministry of
Culture, the park contains numerous monuments from
different historical periods, starting from the Mycenaean
acropolis and ending with the picturesque little church
of Agios Andreas. And the journey goes on. The Mon-
astery of the Virgin Vrissiani, built in the 17th century,
houses the Museum of Ecclesiastical Art and its exhibits
include old publications, a Gospel dating from 1796,
icons and other things. In the Archaeological Museum,
located in the impressive Kastro, the ancient capital of
Sifnos, a multitude of ceramics, marble sculptures and
coins are exhibited, while the Folk Museum reveals the
other side to the island, from its modern history, with
extensive collections of heirlooms, tools and traditional
clothing.
3 Traditions
In Sifnos, the most impressive monument to the past
and history is the present, the moment when you
will visit the island! It is part of the Sifnians way of
life to unite the present and the past so smoothly
that its as though they are following a recipe known
only to them! Each year on Whit Sunday, the signal
is given with fires lit by the locals in an ancient tower.
One tower succeeds the other and soon the ancient
Greek communication network comes alive again
after thousands of years and it is a sight worth seeing!
For the people of Sifnos keeping traditions is a ritual.
From the biggest festival to the smallest fair. Not a
month goes by without at least one of the hundreds of
chapels or monasteries on the island celebrating a fes-
tival. The fairs are lavish, suitable for everyone and are
organized by ordinary people, the panigyrades as the
locals call them. In order for the faithful to repay their
debt of gratitude to the Saints, they undertake to look
after the icon for a whole year. Even today, more than
three hundred icons live outside their churches, in the
homes of the faithful, both on and off the island! When
the day of the festival arrives, the panigyras returns
the icon to its church. Vespers follows and then plenty
of food and wine are provided. The party lasts until
the early hours with dancing, singing and poems, often
composed on the spot, giving thanks for the festival.
Ingredients
3Rich history
3Ancient monuments
3Legends
3Fascinating museums
3 Hundreds of amazing festivals and traditions
Hi story & Tradi ti on
For the people of Sifnos keeping
traditions is a ritual. From the biggest
festival to the smallest fair.
6 Sifnos 7
he recipe
3Nature
The first sight you see of Sifnos harbour, Kamares,
is idyllic, like a scene from a film, one of the many
that have been shot in Sifnos for famous short and
full-length films. Picturesque, white, Cycladic houses
stretch out before you, each group eyeing you and
inviting you to join them. The peaceful landscape is
completed by the enchanting beach close by, chal-
lenging you to dive into its aquamarine waters, even
if October has said a final farewell to summer. Explo-
ration is just beginning
Just as the mythical Nymphs with the goddess Arte-
mis who was once worshipped here, the beaches on
the island each have their own beauty and charm.
You approach each in a different way, some by road,
others along pathways and yet others from the sea,
to enjoy something different on each one. Rocky
coastlines, golden sands and pebbly beaches satisfy
all preferences. They will all though offer you mo-
ments of relaxation with their crystal waters and the
Cycladic scenery all around.
Sifnos. A place that if you visit once youll visit
again the islands online friends often declare. In this
case, Man seems to follow the tried and tested recipe
of Nature. This destination is included in the Natura
2000 programme. It is the home of many protected
species and also on the route of migratory birds, such
as the heron, the bee-eater, the turtle-dove and many
water fowl.
3Trips
The beauty of Nature, the picturesque villages, the
unique monasteries and the historical monuments
are highlights on the map of your memories. Just
the route that unites them is left. Organized paths
have been created and are maintained with the aim
of combining a walking experience, a mood for fun,
knowledge, enjoyment, comfort and the necessary
services, such as the possibility of returning on public
transport. With distances ranging from 4km to 14km,
these routes are chosen on the basis of expert knowl-
edge and years of experience.
Yet the pathways are not a recent discovery. It is in
the nature of Sifnos and its locals to constantly create
tracks and pathways to transport villagers, goods,
animals, leading to villages and pastures. The result is
impressive. Endless networks of pathways that blend
into the surroundings are there for you to discover
and enjoy!
Exploration on Sifnos leads to discoveries, to small
and large treasures. It is perhaps no coincidence
that the island was chosen as the site for the filming
of the Greek hit film entitled ISLAND 2: The hunt
for lost treasure.
Ingredients
3Natural beauty
3Magnificent beaches
3Exceptional fauna
3Incomparable trips
Nature & Tri ps
Sifnos. A place that if you visit once youll visit again the islands
online friends often declare.
8 Sifnos 9
Vi llages & Churches
he recipe
3Villages
The German architect Dr Friedrich Christoph Wagner
dedicated six successive years to the island recording
its every corner. In his book he is clearly impressed by
anonymous architecture as an expression of the envi-
ronment and lifestyle!. The traditional settlements in
Sifnos blend in exceptionally well with the landscape
and the human element, but differ between themselves
like distinct personalities. The settlement of Kastro, the
islands ancient capital, has kept its medieval charac-
ter and offers a panoramic view over the whole island.
Apollonia, the islands present-day centre, was named
after Apollo, the ancient god of light. Its dozens of cob-
bled streets throb with energy and life. In the north lies
Artemonas. Its purpose is to impress you with its Cy-
cladic mansions and guide you along the path of tradi-
tion.
Wandering through the island, you will come across
two brothers, one complementing the other, Ano and
Kato Petali. In Exambela, birthplace of Nikolaos Tsele-
mentes, you will be welcomed by white windmills while
the little villages of Agios Loukas and Katavatis will
guide you through the details and myths in the islands
history. Each village has a different flavour. Along the
unforgettable route you will be enchanted by the blue
of the sea and the islands coastal settlements. Kamares,
Plati Gialos, Faros, Herronisos, Chrysopigi and Vathi
promise unique moments of hospitality and relaxation.
The beaches of Poulati, Seralia and Vroulidion ideally
make up this dreamlike image. The route becomes a
pleasure when it leads along pathways or by sea to
heavenly places, such as Vlihada, Gialoudia, Artimoni,
Tsoha and Fikiada.
Above all, each village is a joy to stay in, to wander
through and to taste its delights in white, freshly-paint-
ed, cube-shaped houses, built with care according to
dozens of different techniques and decorations.
3Churches
Centuries ago, pirates lay siege to the island. Legend
says that one nun was left to defend the Monastery.
The Virgin Mary heard her prayers and rent the ground
in two, with the result that the attackers fell into the
hole! Since then, just a thin strip of land unites the
island with the best-known church, the Virgin Mary
of Chrysopigi, the present-day patron saint of the is-
land, a unique church, but not the only one. A church
for every day of the year my son!, claims the local
who will willingly start to chat. What is special about
the case of Sifnos is not quantity but uniqueness. Each
church differs from the previous one just as each day
differs from the rest. A story from the past is attached
to each monastery and chapel. Some were built on top
of ancient temples and others as an expression of joy.
Correspondingly a story is created for the immediate
future. Each church means a festival and a celebration.
The place exudes a positive aura and is a magnet for
tourists who dream of getting married in a picturesque
little church overlooking the Aegean Sea. Each church
lives with the inhabitants and the friends of the island,
creating experiences and images.
Ingredients
3Unique villages
3Beauty and architecture
3Churches
3And dozens of experiences
A church for every day of the year my son!
10 Sifnos 11
he recipe
3Gastronomy
If the Cyclades were a little white house, then Sifnos
would be the kitchen where family members gather for
dinner, while delicious smells invade each room.
As the birthplace of many great chefs, like Nikos Tsele-
mentes, Sifnos trained Greece in the art of gastrono-
my. Its secret does not lie in the correct amount of in-
gredients, but in the spontaneous soul and the delicacy
of Sifnos. It is no coincidence that the highlight of every
festival is the generous meal that the panigyras pro-
vides for all, or in other words, the great table of love.
The local menu includes many tasty, traditional dishes,
such as revithokeftedes (chickpea patties), yardlong
beans (ambelofasoula) with garlic sauce, the traditional
Sunday revithada (chickpea soup) that is cooked all Sat-
urday night in a wood-burning oven, kaparosalata (ca-
per salad) and meat baked in a clay pot (mastelo). The
inhabitants keep the best for dessert: homemade Sifnian
sweets and biscuits, such as, amigdalota (almond bis-
cuits), melopita (honey pie), bourekia (patties), kour-
abiedes (walnut sugar biscuits), pasteli (sesame and
honey bar), loukoumia (Turkish delight), kouloures
(rings) and the delicious loli kolokithopita (pumpkin
pie). They call it loli, meaning crazy, as the ingredi-
ents used make the pie so creamy and light that it wob-
bles like... crazy!, exclaims with admiration the famous
Greek gastronomer and chef, Ilias Mamalakis.
3Local products
The people that know how to appreciate what the land
and Nature produce, they know the secret of good food.
Besides one of the special features of the local cuisine is
dishes cooked in clay pots that are made by local pot-
ters!
Sifnian honey is well-known for its purity and high
quality. It owes its exceptional flavour and unique aro-
ma to the thyme that overruns the island.
With a long tradition in dairy farming, Sifnians use milk
to produce a large range of soft and hard cheeses. Using
the huge copper pot that brings to mind references in
Homers Odyssey, the timeless recipe produces aromat-
ic, tasty, fresh cheeses. The sweet boiled mizithra, other-
wise known as unsalted anthotiro, is an ingredient used
in the melopita prepared by housewives at Easter. Salty,
dried anthotiro adds flavour to pasta, Sifnian manoura
with its unique, spicy flavour is an enjoyable meze with
wine or ouzo, and the delicious xinomizithra, an essen-
tial ingredient of pies and salads.
The island has much more to offer, such as the unique,
sweet-smelling, traditional wines, locally made, while
the herbs for use in drinks and cooking must not be
overlooked; sage, chamomile, oregano, thyme and mar-
joram, as well as choice capers.
Ingredients
3Pure materials
3Dozens of tasty dishes
3Innumerable recipes
Gastronomy & Local Products
The people that know how to appreciate what the land and nature
produce, they know the secret of good food
12 Sifnos 13
Pottery & Culture
he recipe
3Pottery
There are activities in which you step on the gas, not
to accelerate, but to relieve tension! Pottery belongs
to this category!
Sifnos is considered the starting-point for the develop-
ment and spread of pottery-making, both in the Cy-
clades, and in Greece as a whole. Statuettes and vari-
ous vessels that were located during excavations date
back to the Early Cycladic period! Since then, the art
has passed from generation to generation with unfail-
ing interest, as a result of the inclination of Man, as
well as of Nature, which provides the necessary raw
materials, such as argil deposits, plenty of water and
strong sunshine.
The potter sets the speed of the wheel as if he is step-
ping on the gas, so that the clay takes shape beneath
his fingers. In Sifnos you can find wonderful house-
hold items (eg. for cooking, carrying) that withstand
the test of time, as well as decorative clay vessels, pro-
duced by the skilful hands of Sifnian potters with the
most typical being the flaros. The flaros is essentially
a chimney on a Sifnian house, although nowadays they
hold pride of place as ornaments or lights. At the same
time, you can attend pottery lessons which relax you,
relieve tension and contribute to your inner balance!
3Culture
In Sifnos, art and the local population walk side by
side. Pottery is a part of life. Cookery is converted
into an expression of the soul and takes a leading
role in the original gastronomy festival Nikos Tse-
lementes where almost all the Cycladic islands cook
around a big table and join together in fun, creativity
and joy. Festivals are a pleasant part of everyday life
all year round, allowing you to feel the island deep
within you. There you will also have the chance to
meet the islands famous couple.
The traditional instruments, the fiddle and the lute,
together accompany all entertainment and tradition.
Easter in Sifnos is a holiday for the locals, for Nature
and for the visitor, with countless delicacies, smells
and traditional fairs.
On Easter Saturday and Easter Sunday the family ta-
ble is full of local meats, cheeses and sweets. There
is great joy on Easter Sunday; Judas is symbolically
burnt, sometimes in the square in Artemonas and
other times in Apollonia, while in some villages the
age-old custom of playing tsounia, a game like
bowling, is still kept up! At the same time, cultural
and visual events are held permanently during the
summer season, both by associations and bodies, as
well as by individuals.
Book presentations, small and large concerts, the-
atrical performances and visual exhibitions by the
National Art Gallery and the Benaki Museum with
both modern and historical themes, are just a small
example of artistic expression in Sifnos!
Ingredients
3The inspiration of Man
3The power of Nature
3Mood for creation
In Sifnos, art and the local population walk side by side.
14 Sifnos 15
he recipe
Your relationship with Sifnos is much like that of the
potter with his clay. You shape it to your liking, so long
as the result satisfies you. Along the way you will have
many, pure raw materials at your disposal. History
and tradition will transport you back in time. Nature
will lead you along new routes full of little villages
and hundreds of shrines. Gastronomy will reward
your decision to visit Sifnos, while the arts will open
up new horizons. The locals will always be with you
along the way. Kind-hearted people, proud of their
island, the inhabitants consider volunteering, cleanli-
ness and hospitality their philosophy of life and not
their duty. Their services reflect the honesty in their
smiles. Special local products are available all over the
island. High-standard accommodation combines tra-
dition, the Cyclades and modern services. Good food
and high-quality wine are served in picturesque tav-
ernas and in stylish restaurants. Sweets, drinks and
aperitifs are the ideal accompaniment and are served
in authentic sweet-shops, modern bars and cafeterias,
the high spot being the famous alleyway in Apollonia
where fun, artistic spirit and good taste take prec-
edence and the pulse of nightlife beats. Just as in any
successful recipe, here too you must take the initiative
so as to make your life tastier even during periods
other than summer, like Easter, and to enjoy experi-
ences, like an island wedding. Besides the incentive for
friends arriving on the island every year from Greece
and overseas, is one. To seek their own special recipe
for harmony.
Ingredients
3Pure raw materials
3And you!
Hospi tali ty
The incentive for friends arriving on the island every year from Greece and
overseas, is one. To seek their own special recipe for harmony.
16 Sifnos
Town Hall +30 22843 60300, Sifnos Municipal Tourist Office 22840 33661,
Police Station +30 2284031210, Port Authority +30 2284033617,
Health Center +30 2284031315, Post Office +30 2284031329
MUSEUMS Archaeological +30 2284031022, Folklore +30 2284031341
Ecclesiastical museum of Monis Vrisis +30 2284031335
Useful Info
www.sifnos.gr
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