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| Vathi Bay |
After disembarking from our 7-day cruise (will cruise lines ever get this right?), we walked 20 minutes to the other side of the port and boarded a 3-hour ferry to Sifnos. We were picked up at the port of Kamares by the owner of the hotel we were staying at, and he shared some information about the area during the 20-minute drive across the island. After arriving at the Petali Village Hotel perched just above the town of Apollonia, we opened the doors to the balcony and wow. I would highly recommend this place if you plan a stay on Sifnos.
Known for its good hiking, we took several challenging hikes. The first was to the Church of the Seven Martyrs, just about 45 minutes from the Hotel on fairly steep hills. Sifnos is known as the island with 360+ churches, one for each day, and on this hike alone, we passed about seven churches. We meandered through Kastro, the original capital of the island, and stopped for a snack, which was the most delicious beet and goat cheese salad IN THE WORLD.
The next day, we ventured south through the winding streets and made our way through several acres of stone-lined fields. We then descended to Apokofto Beach and enjoyed a lunch right on the beach. We continued to the Chrissopigi Monastery. The earliest mention of Panagia Chrysopigi is in a manuscript of the monk Parthenios Hairetis, which was dated by Theodosis Sperantzas in 1676 or 1677. These churches are all so well maintained, and this one was undergoing some major restoration for sure. After touring the Monastery, we continued on to Plaitos Giaios, sipping a glass of wine under an umbrella as a rain shower passed. After this 6.81-mile hike, we decided to take a cab back to the hotel.
The last hike was again to the south, and then slightly west, through the village of Katavati. A short ascent on a large path brought us to a hidden valley called “Skafi”, which just happened to be a botanical garden. You could smell all of the herbs, including rosemary and sage. We passed through the ruined monastery of Taxiarchis Skafis, which, for a 'ruin', was still quite amazing. After a few more rugged climbs, we caught our first glimpse of the sea, toward Milos, Kimolos, and Polyaigos islands. We then passed the beautiful church of Panagia tou Niliou, and finally descended to the bay of Vathi. Another challenging route, just short of 6 miles and 3 hours, this route was taxing, with loose rock forcing you to focus on every step. I can tell because I don't have as many photos! The reward was the view at Vathi and lunch on the beach with toes in the sand. We took the bus back to Appolonia, quite a deal compared to the cab!
We definitely felt a different vibe on Sifnos as compared to Mykonos and certainly much different than Athens. During our stay anywhere in Greece, we enjoyed the culture, the cats, the lamb kabobs, Greek wine, plenty of fantastic Greek salads, and unforgettable sunsets!
Have you ever been to a Greek island? What was your favorite? Leave your comments below! Enjoyed this post? Never miss out on future posts by following us.
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