Sikinos Sights: Kastro, Zoodochos Pigi & Episkopi
The sights of Sikinos are its hill village of Kastro, the site of Ancient Sikinos, and two monasteries — the fortified Zoodochos Pigi above Kastro and the Episkopi in the south. Sikinos is small and its sights are few, but they carry a long history: a fortified monastery that named a village, and a church built on a Roman temple to Apollo. Add the windmills of Chora and the ancient ruins at Malta beach, and a slow day covers the island.
- Ancient site
- Kastro
- Above Kastro
- Zoodochos Pigi
- In the south
- Episkopi
- Windmills
- Chora
Kastro and Ancient Sikinos
Kastro is the larger of the island's two hill villages and the site of Ancient Sikinos, standing on the north side above the port. Its lanes hold old houses and churches, and it serves as the island's centre. The village takes its name from the fortified monastery above it — kastro means castle — and from the heights the views reach across the island. Kastro and its neighbour Chora are described on the island guide.
Zoodochos Pigi monastery
Above Kastro stands the abandoned Zoodochos Pigi monastery. Once fortified, it gave the village of Kastro its name, and from its walls there are beautiful views over the whole island. It is the marquee sight of Sikinos, a short climb from the village and a natural high point for a walk on the north side of the island.
Episkopi monastery
In the south of Sikinos, the Episkopi monastery is built on what may have been a Roman temple dedicated to the god Apollo — a rare survival that links the island to the ancient world. It stands away from the villages, in the quiet interior south of Kastro and Chora, and rewards a walk or a drive to reach it.
Chora windmills and Malta ruins
Two smaller sights round out the island. Chora, the smaller of the two hill villages beside Kastro, keeps a scatter of ruined houses and some old windmills among its lanes. On the south coast, a short walk north of Agios Georgios, the small cove of Malta is the site of some ancient ruins, set among its sand and pebbles. The beach itself is on the Sikinos beaches guide.
