Skopelos Beaches
The island of Skopelos has plenty of beautiful beaches for
visitors to enjoy; in fact, it boasts some of the most beautiful
beaches in Greece. Some of them may be recognisable from the film
Mamma Mia, which was shot on the island. Most are shingle beaches
lapped by clear blue waters, great for snorkelling, fishing and
swimming. There are usually sunbeds and umbrellas available at the
beach, and waterfront taverns nearby. It is ideal to hire a boat to
sail to private, secluded coves at one's leisure, but by car or
even bus one can still reach lots of great beaches. Favourite
Skopelos beaches include Stafilos, which is just just under three
miles (4km) from Skopelos town, and is a very pretty beach with a
bar and a lifeguard. There is parking for cars and the bus does
stop at this beach. Panormos is another favourite; the bay boasts
one of the most beautiful, natural ports in the world and it is
celebrated for its sunsets. Visitors should beware that the water
on Panormos gets deep quite fast. Milia is considered by many to be
the most attractive beach on the island; it is long and white and
has pine forests descending all the way to the beach. The Amarandos
coves are also a popular attraction.
Panormos Beach
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Folklore Museum of Skopelos
The Folklore Museum of Skopelos is housed in a traditional
building, its interior reminiscent of Skopelitian homes of the
past. The museum exhibits local 19th and 20th-century artefacts
focusing on three areas of handiwork practiced traditionally in
Skopelos: embroidery, weaving, and handicraft work including
ceramics, woodcarving, the making of knives, tools and agricultural
implements, and folk art paintings. There are also nautical
exhibits and model ships on display, illustrating the proud
nautical history of the area. The museum has recreated rooms and
outfits to give visitors an idea of how locals lived and looked in
centuries past. It is a small but charming museum and should'nt
take much time to explore; it is interesting to walk into this old
house and become immersed in the belongings and skilled produce of
past inhabitants. For those passionate about arts and crafts this
is a must. As the collection is modern and not ancient, those
tourists who wish to explore ancient Greece need not visit.
Skopelos
www.davidbaxendale.com
National Marine Park
The National Marine Park of North Sporades is a great attraction
for visitors to Skopelos. The park was the first designated Marine
Park in the country and is currently one of the largest marine
protected areas in Europe. Besides the open ocean, the park
includes Alonnisos, six smaller islands (Peristera, Kyra Panagia,
Gioura, Psathura, Piperi and Skantzoura), and 22 uninhabited islets
and rocky outcrops. The waters are a conservation area as they are
the breeding grounds for endangered Mediterranean monk seals. There
are also a number of dolphin and whale species in the area,
including the striped dolphin and the long-finned pilot whale. The
park is very beautiful and there is lots to explore. One of the
most popular and beautiful beaches is Agios Dimitrios, a pebble
beach with stunning turquoise water, which has been voted several
times as one of the most lovely beaches in the world. There are
many wonderful beaches to explore in the park and several great
walking paths. On Alonnisos visitors will find Patitiri port, from
where many boats depart to all the beaches of the island as well as
the rest of the islands of the Marine Park, where access is
permitted. Some areas are kept completely free from human
influence.
A monk seal
Doi
Like all the Sporadic Islands, Skopelos enjoys hot, dry summers
and mild winters. Temperatures in July and August range from 82F
(28C) during the day to 72F (22C) at night. Rainfall is unlikely in
summer but showers can be expected between September and May. The
heaviest rain falls in the winter months; Skopelos does sometimes
get snow, which can be rather magical. All of the northern Sporadic
Islands receive a strong wind blowing from the north, so most of
their beaches are on the sheltered southern sides. Summer is by far
the most popular time to visit Skopelos. That said, spring and
autumn are also excellent seasons, as there is lovely weather and
crowds are far smaller than during the peak summer months.
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Skopelos has sand and pebble beaches and, sometimes, a beautiful
blanket of snow covers the island during winter. There's good
swimming and snorkeling at Staphylos and Panormos beaches; nature
lovers will find the National Marine Park both engaging and
informative. However, the island's beautiful natural landscapes
truly define it as a tourist destination, as they create a
wonderful setting for family holidays or romantic getaways. Horse
riding, sailing trips and picnicking at Amarandos' deserted coves
round out the island's list of activities.
Panormos Beach
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Skopelos
www.davidbaxendale.com
A monk seal
Doi
