Serifos
Population: 1,420 (2011)
ISLAND OVERVIEW
Serifos, lies south of Kythnos and northwest of Sifnos. The area is 75 square km (29 sq mi). The landscape is hilly and fairly barren with sandy beaches and coves dotted around the coastline. The highest peak of Serifos is Troulos, at 587 m. On the western side of the island are remains of mines.
The main village is Chora Serifos, built on the slopes of a hill in traditional Cycladic style with great views to the sea. The other villages are mostly tourist resorts that only come alive in summer.
Places of interest are the medieval castle in Chora, the ancient monument Aspros Pýrgos, a Hellenistic marble watchtower (c. 300 BC), the fortified Monastery of the Taxiarchs. Ancient marble sculptures are displayed in the Archaeological Collection in Chora.
The island’s economy is based mainly on tourism as well as small scale agriculture.
Serifos is easily accessible by ferry from Piraeus port in Athens and from some neighbouring islands like Milos, Sifnos, and Kythnos. The route from Piraeus port to Serifos lasts approximately 2 hours. During summer, some extra routes are carried out from Lavrion port.
The Island & Its History
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In antiquity, the island was known for the alleged muteness of its frogs. During the Roman imperial period, Serifos was a place of exile. After 1204 it became a minor dependency of the Venetian dukes of the Archipelago.
In the late 19th century Serifos experienced a modest economic boom from the exploitation of the island’s extensive iron ore deposits. These mines were very popular in ancient times and provided Greece with material to construct houses and temples. Its exploitation started again in the late 19th century and played an important role in the island’s recent history. The mines closed in the 1960s, and Serifos now depends on tourism and small-scale agriculture.
Prayer Points
- The people on the island will realize their need for God and their eyes will be opened to the truth and love of God through reading the Bible for themselves.
- The Lord will work in the lives of all the God-fearing religious people already living on this island, and bring healing & refreshment to their lives.
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