Wednesday 23 September 2026 · Thessaly, GreeceΕλληνικά
Exploring Thessaly

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Skopelos: the Chora, the chapels and Agios Ioannis at Kastri

Ancient Peparethos, a town that descends like an amphitheatre to the harbour, and a chapel on a rock that the whole world came to know.

Editorial team · · 1 min read · Skopelos

Skopelos: the Chora, the chapels and Agios Ioannis at Kastri

Skopelos is the greenest of the Sporades: pine forests down to the sea, farmhouses on the slopes and dozens of chapels scattered everywhere.

Ancient Peparethos

In antiquity the island was called Peparethos and was known for its wine, which travelled in amphorae all over the Aegean. According to myth it was founded by Staphylos, a son of Dionysus, whose name means "bunch of grapes": hard to think of a better name for a wine island.

The Chora

Skopelos Town descends like an amphitheatre to the harbour: white houses with slate roofs, narrow lanes, a church on every corner. The walk from the harbour to its highest points is one of the loveliest in the Sporades.

Agios Ioannis at Kastri

On the north coast, a tiny chapel stands on top of a rock above the sea. To reach it you climb steps cut into the rock. Agios Ioannis at Kastri became famous worldwide in 2008, when scenes of Mamma Mia! were filmed there.

Flavours

Do not leave without trying the Skopelos cheese pie, a coiled fried pie, and the sweets made with plums, one of the island's traditional products.

Temporary photographs. Photo: Giles Laurent / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0) · Photo: dronepicr / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 2.0) · Photo: Herbert wie / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0)

Photographs

Skopelos Town and harbour from above.
Skopelos Town and harbour from above.
At the harbour of Skopelos Town.
At the harbour of Skopelos Town.

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