It is located at the center of Hora and it hosts important objects from the everyday life of the last two centuries. Among them local clothes, photographs, embroideries, knives and miniatures of wooden ships. The building itself has a long story, since it was built in 1765, and, until the big earthquakes in 1965, it remained in its initial condition. After the earthquakes, the building was renovated based on its initial design. Entrance to the museum is free for children below 12 years old, while for the rest, the ticket costs 3 Euros.

It is housed in the house of the Greek writer Pavlos Nirvanas (whose real name was Petros Apostolides), built in the first half of the 19th century. What is really interesting in this museum is that the whole history of Skopelos is not presented in the linear, usual way, but in a thematic approach. Every period is subdivided in three sections: social organization, economy and culture. Again the building has a historical significance, not only because the writer P. Nirvanas lived in it, but also due to the fact that it is a wonderful token of local architecture of houses of the “Macedonian Type” (different from the “Agricultural Type” of houses). 

Museum of Cultural Inheritance 

The museum, found at Glossa, was inaugurated on October 28, 2007, and also houses a library called “Perseus Athenian Library”. Visitors can admire the wonderful building of traditional architecture (built in 1926 and renovated in 2007), and various artistic objects and objects of the everyday life on the island. 

It was founded in 1995 and organizes exhibitions and various events, whereas it also hosts a dark room with 7 workspaces. 

The foundation was established in 1999 by Gloria Carr, an American artist who decided to set up this foundation as soon as she visited Skopelos. SkopArt’s mission is to promote visual, performing and literary arts, but in 2000 ceramics and screen printing were also added in the foundation’s activities. The Foundation offers workshops from June through September and residencies for artists from March through May and August through December.  So far, SkopArt has hosted artists from many parts of the world including, Australia, Canada, Bulgaria, England, France, Greece, Holland, Hungary, India, Japan, Korea, Poland, Puerto Rico, Romania, Russia, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand and the United States. SkopArt organizes many interesting events and plays an important role in the island’s artistic education.

The residence is found in Hora and it is an old house of traditional architecture of the 18th century that is now used as a museum and a hosting venue for various events. Exhibits include traditional costumes, furniture, artistic objects and objects of the everyday life. Most events hosted at the Vakratsas Residence are hosted in its beautiful yard during the summer.  

On the southwest part of Skopelos, on the “Palaiokastro” hill, there is Selinounda, which used to be an organized inhabited region during the Ancient and the Roman years. The area is close to Glossa and there are ruins of Roman baths at Loutraki (“Loutra” is the Greek word for baths). Selinounda was inhabited from the 8th century B.C. to the 4th century A.D. and was very prosperous during the Roman years. It is mentioned in Ancient texts that it was founded by inhabitants of Halkida, and had an aqueduct, an organized commercial center, temples, streets with roofs specifically created for walking, statues and manufacturing premises. Selinounda findings include sarcophaguses (that must have been imported from Asia Minor), signs and sculptures.  Visitors can admire part of the fortress at Palaiokastro and the Roman baths at Loutraki, as well as the ruins of an ancient temple dedicated to goddess Athena (5th century b.C.).

 

It is also worth mentioning that ruins of other temples dedicated to goddess Athena have been found around the island, like in Hora near the castle, or at the position “Vrahos” where the Church of Saint Apostles has been built, which are no longer visible. The ruins of another temple dedicated to Athena are visible at the position Pefkias on the mountain (about 5 km. from Hora). 

It is the location where king Stafylos built his palace. Ruins of the Minoan style palace were discovered in the 20th century next to the beach, as well as the royal grave, typical sample of the Mycenaean tombs, with important findings like a golden crown, a sword with a golden handhold, golden jewels and ancient pots. All these items are exhibited either in the Archaeological Museum of Athens or of Volos. At Stafylos were also discovered ruins of amphora laboratories.

At the southern part of Skopelos’ bay called Ambeliki, is an ancient temple dedicated to the god/father of medicine, Asclepius. The temple was first discovered in 1961, when archaeologists found ruins of a gallery and its walls. Unfortunately, part of these walls was destroyed by the sea. More excavations later on revealed ceramic pots, a shell with the letters ASCL on it, a head of a female statue, the body of a male statue, and a column with a sculpted representation of human shapes. Archaeologists believe that the same temple was also partly dedicated to Artemis and Apollo.

Palaiokastro and the Cave of Pan are two archaeological sites in the area of Panormos. Apart from the ruins of an ancient laboratory of amphoras (similar ruins were also found at Stafylos and Agnondas), Panormos also had an acropolis called Palaiokastro with impressive walls, saved today at a very good condition. A path starting from the acropolis leads to the Cave of Pan, where this ambiguous god was worshiped that symbolized the power of birth and nature. Pan was the protector of farmers and was mainly worshiped in natural caves all over Greece.

On the mountain Delphi, there are four famous carved graves called Sendoukia, as they have lids and close like coffers (“sendouki” is the Greek word for coffer). Sendoukia are considered to have been the graves of pirates or kings and they date back to the post-Roman period. Visitors should be prepared that a lot of walking is required in order to arrive at this archaeological site and there are red marks on the stones of the path that indicate the itinerary; however, the site itself and the marvelous view will compensate them.

The Venetian Castle at Hora is built on the ancient ruins of the city of Peparithos. It was built on this hill during the domination of the Ghisi family, during the 13th century A.D., and it is visible from everywhere in the city of Skopelos. The castle has an authentic medieval atmosphere and offers a magnificent view. 

 

The Gourouni Lighthouse, on the northern part of Skopelos, is one of the oldest lighthouses in Greece, built in 1889. During the Ottoman occupation, the lighthouse was always off. Since 1989 it operated with electric power, whereas from 1928 to 1989 oil was used. The lighthouse consists of the house and the stone tower on top of which there is the light. Today, a guardian lives at the lighthouse and makes sure it works properly. Visitors should be aware that there are many snakes around the lighthouse; therefore they should be very careful when approaching it.

It is one of the two Sea Parks in Greece (the other being in Zakynthos) and it houses 170 species of fish, 70 species of amphipodous and 40 species of sponges. The sea park consists of the area between the southeastern Skopelos and Alonnisos, 94% of which is sea surface. The remaining 6% is composed of little inhabited islands, with great ecological significance and unrivaled beauty. This is the largest protected sea area in Europe! Visitors can admire the beauty of nature, untouched by the human hand, and the world’s largest population of Monachus Monachus (about 400-500 seals). According to scientists, 2/3 of the total Monachus Monachus seals, which are considered as the most endangered species among all mammals on earth, live in the Greek seas.

In conclusion, boredom is something unknown to travelers that will visit Skopelos; this island is blessed in so many ways that it can attract all kinds of travelers, ranging from nature lovers to religious tourists or cosmopolitan travelers.