SYROS REISGIDS

SYROS > GESCHIEDENIS

GESCHIEDENIS

Syros is located in the centre of the Cyclades and was first inhabited in the prehistoric period, 4000 BC and later during the early Cycladic period of 3000 BC as revealed by archaeological excavations.

The first historical reference was by Homer that referred to it as Syrii, that is to say had two cities: Posidonias and Foiniki. The first residents of island were Phoenecians and the name Syros emanates from Ousyra meaning cheerful or Syr meaning rock.

Ancient Ermoupoli was built by the Iones and later was occupied by the Persian, Roman, Franks and Turkish conquerors; each left their own cultural stain. Those that left the greatest mark with their presence the island were the Venetians making Syros an important commercial centre of the eastern Mediterranean. The pirate invasions forced the residents to transport the capital onto the hill, where today its medieval settlement of Ano Syros with its church of San Georgio dominates.

When the island’s sovereignty passed to the French, Ano Syros was inhabited by Catholics who founded a small abbey that is still in operation today.

The major economic growth of Ermoupolis came after the revolution of 1821, when a group of refugees from Psaras, Chios, Crete and Asia Minor were installed here with their naval and trading activities. This period of strength continued up to the beginning of the 20th century.

Today, the glamour of its past is reflected in the important architectural monuments of past centuries, but also in the rich artistic events of the Ermoupoleia festival that is organised each year in June.