Sporades 2005

Departure for Skopelos

For economic reasons we decided to reach the Sporades by ship. I wouldn't recommend this kind of trip to anyone who is impatient to arrive right away!! It took us about two days! Departure by train from Reggio Emilia to Ancona where we took the ship (Minoan Lines) to Patras. Having arrived the next day around 12, we took a bus to Athens (the frequency of buses to Athens is really good!) from where we took another bus to Agios Konstantinos (the port from which the hydrofoils to the Sporades depart). Here we spent the night and waited to board the hydrofoil the following morning!! An Odyssey!!! But it was worth it!!

Week in Skopelos

I was incredibly struck by the green of this island, entirely covered by pine forests, which contrasts with the intense blue of the sea. Beaches mostly of pebbles or coarse sand, a sea of incredible colours. The island wasn't at all crowded so anywhere you can carve out your own space to lie down in peace! The best beach is definitely Panormos with its pebbly sand and the tavernas on the road from which the smell of grilled fish wafts! Before Panormos, coming from Skopelos City, you go down to another exceptional beach whose name, however, I don't remember... In Skopelos we stayed at the Stella studios which are on the hill overlooking Skopelos City. Nice, clean and welcoming. A reliable and helpful hostess. In short, it's really worth making a trip to Skopelos if you're planning to go to the Sporades.

Skiathos

We reach Skiathos by hydrofoil. The connections between the Sporades are quite frequent ( I knew it before leaving by its reputation as a chaotic island famous for its nightlife. Indeed there's movement for those who want to have fun in the evening, there are crowded, equipped and fashionable beaches. To my great surprise, however, as often happens in Greece, you just have to get off the beaten track of mass tourism and behold enchanted, uncrowded corners where you can relax in complete peace! Often the beaches, here too mostly of pebbles, can only be reached after winding paths through the brambles. But the efforts are rewarded by solitary spots where it's not hard to find no other people. Worth recommending is the trip around the island with a stop at Lalaria beach. It can only be reached by sea but it's truly a corner of paradise.

A pity that the boats endlessly unloading tourists turn it into an anthill... In the end Skiathos surprised me positively. Truly beautiful!

Alonissos

The real pearl of the holiday! A mountainous island rich in vegetation and in rocky beaches with crystal-clear waters... Truly quiet with little crowding, ideal for those who want to relax far from the crowd. Worth recommending is a boat trip to the nearby marine park which includes some uninhabited islands, during which we also had a pleasant encounter with a couple of dolphins that accompanied us for at least 15 minutes!! Watch out for scooters, it can become a problem to find any available in high season especially if there are many of you. If you feel like a good grilled fresh fish and you're in Patitiri, go to the restaurant at the far right of the seafront (looking at the sea): it's a "no-frills" place but with perfect service, very fresh and good fish and cheap prices! If you love Greece I warmly recommend making a trip to Alonissos!