Sifnos
Sifnos is a mountainous island and thus, contributes in its own way to the beautiful landscape of the Cyclades. Its hills and valleys with olive trees are verdant, differentiating thus the landscape greatly in comparison to the other islands of the Aegean, where vegetation is almost nonexistent. However, its beauty is not evident at first sight. When a visitor arrives and is still on the boat, he or she approaches facing two abrupt cliffs, and in the background, there is the very vague impression of the houses of a village. That village is Kamares, which when one becomes acquainted with it, he or she will fall in love with it and find it unforgettable.
Sifnos is considered to be the island of Apollo. Patience is required in order to become familiar with Sifnos and discover its beauty, which indisputably does exist. For this reason, Sifnos is not a place for a holiday with a schedule. However, it is ideal for exploration, for people who know how to appreciate what exists and do not seek to be impressed at first glance. They will discover the light of Sifnos.
The architectural forms on Sifnos are simple and in harmony with the needs and the aesthetics of the landscape. The houses are completely white-washed and cubical in shape, the alleys are paved and white-washed and are decorated with flowers at their edges.
The yards of the houses are completely white with white walls, stone benches, and between them stand the picturesque white churches with their blue domes, the color of the sky and the sea, and their beautiful bell towers. Sifnos awaits everyone with open arms. It wants us to walk in its alleys, to enjoy its sunshine, to swim at its clean beaches, and to visit the church of Panagia Ouranofora. And the night lies in wait to make us travel to other places.
Sifnos belongs to the archipelago of the Western Cyclades in the Aegean Sea and is located between Serifos, Kimolos, and Antiparos. The island has a triangular shape and it is 75 nautical miles away from Piraeus. Its area reaches 74 square kilometers. The coastline of the island extends for approximately 70 kilometers and is full of beautiful coves and small bays.
Sifnos belongs to the Province of the Cyclades in both administrative and ecclesiastical terms. The Metropolitan Bishopric to which it belongs has its seat in Ermoupoli, on Syros. Approximately 15 years ago it became a Municipality that includes many settlements and villages. The administrative headquarters of the Municipality is in Apollonia.
Pottery on Sifnos.
Sifnos is the stronghold of the development and spread of pottery in the Cycladic area. The first examples of pottery date from the Proto-Cycladic period (statuettes, decorative items, and utilitarian vessels) and this art has continued since then to this day.
The abundant presence of raw materials on the island (deposits of clay, abundant water, the strong sun), as well as the skilful hands of its craftsmen, contributed to the development of this craft.
They made items for household use, vessels for cooking (buckets, covered pots, clay barrels, etc.), vessels for carrying liquids (jugs, and pitchers of various sizes and shapes), as well as other useful items (braziers, milk jugs, cheese or honey barrels, etc.).
The production of such vessels was so well known that the word “Sifnian” became synonymous with “clay pot-maker” or “jug-maker”.
Originally the pottery workshops (also known as “tsikaladika”) were established in the interior, near Artemonas and Ano Petali, in order to be protected from the incursions of the pirates who held sway over the Aegean. Later, they were transferred to the coasts of the island, and in particular to those that were protected from the strong north wind.
The Sifnians spread their craft all over Greece (Marousi, Kalamata, Volos, Mani, Kythnos, Paros, Naxos), while many pottery workshops have been founded by Sifnians or by others who learned from them. Today, more than twelve pottery workshops continue to function all over Sifnos, contributing to the continuation of the tradition of our ancestors. Thus, a visitor to the island may find amazing ceramic decorations made by the skilful hands of Sifnian potters, who have been working the Sifnian soil for centuries with skill and care, shaping objects of unique beauty and art.