Serifos Island

Serifos Island is a small, uninhabited island located about 320 kilometres southeast of mainland Greece. It is situated in the Aegean Sea, between the islands of Lemnos and Imbros. Administratively, it is a part of the municipality of Limni, in the regional unit of Imbros, on the north coast of the island Lemnos.

History

The island is first mentioned in Homer’s Iliad (8.305-310), where it is said to belong jointly to Agamemnon and Menelaus.

It was later the site of a naval battle between Athens and Sparta, which resulted in the latter’s defeat (404 BC). In 333 BC, Alexander the Great landed on Serifos as part of his campaign against Asia Minor. The island is mentioned in the 2nd century AD periplus of Scylax, who describes a few shipwrecks on it. It was later part of Heraclea Pontica (Dardanelles), which controlled other Aegean islands until Bithynia took over this territory during his reign as King Mithridates III (ca 87-63 BC).

During Ottoman rule and de facto independent Greece in the 1820s, Serifos remained undeveloped with no significant facilities present aside from five Greek families’ summerhouse villages to live at longer periods of time.

The island is now owned by the Greek state and administered as part of the municipality of Limni on Lemnos. There are no permanent inhabitants, but during summer there are usually a few tourists who visit to explore its beautiful coves and rocky coastline.

Climate

The climate on Serifos is temperate with a dry, Mediterranean climate. Summers are generally warm and dry, with frequent strong sunshine. The island receives of rainfall per year. Autumn is windy, due to the North Aegean Sea’s proximity (5-6 nautical miles), along which storms sometimes occur from late summer into early autumn and bring a substantial amount of rain in a short period of time; however it brings cooler temperatures as well as occasional sunny periods that melt much off the precipitation during summer thus relieving pressure over bare rocks by providing relief from direct sunlight preventing evaporation necessary for cooling elements within the ground vulnerable to dehydration such as roots or herbs needed to sustain plant life (starvation would set in once the plants withered). Winters are mild, with occasional light snow and temperatures that sometimes dip below freezing. Springtime is damp and often rainy; however, because of the prevailing Westerly winds from mainland Turkey or Asia Minor, it can be quite ‘windy’ on Serifos which reaches gale force at times.

Culture

The culture of Serifos is heavily influenced by the island’s diminutive population and isolation. The people are mainly subsistence farmers, with a limited number of small businesses serving the local market. There is little traffic on the island; most inhabitants only leave to visit relatives or go to services on neighboring islands.

The predominant religion on Serifos is Christianity, although there are also significant religious minorities of Muslims (mainly Albanians) and Traditional Greek Orthodox believers (who make up around one-fifth of the population). Both Muslim and Orthodox churches have been present since antiquity, although their current concentrations reflect the island’s present demographics.

The only school on the island is operated by a charity and has a capacity of forty students. The only medical facility is also run by a charity, and can provide basic care to a few patients at any one time. There is no telephone service on Serifos, making contact with outsiders difficult or impossible without prior arrangements. Internet access is available in limited locations but mainly for business purposes; there are no personal computers on the island.

Politics

The politics of Serifos are dominated by the tiny but influential population of Albanian refugees, who make up around one-third of the total population. The majority of residents are Greek Orthodox Christians, although there is a significant Muslim minority. The island’s sole representative in the Greek Parliament is currently an Albanian refugee, and there have been several claims that political power on Serifos rests with this community rather than with the native Greeks.

Economy

The economy of Serifos is dominated by subsistence farming; most inhabitants only leave to visit relatives or go to services on neighboring islands. There was formerly a thriving fishing industry, but this has almost entirely disappeared. Abandoned buildings abound on the island, many of them left there during the last century; they make up most of the settlement’s economy and houses. Tourism to Serifos is difficult due to its remote location and often inclement weather conditions preventing access by boat or plane; however it is also legitimately difficult for outsiders as residents have been known in rare circumstances not just to attack straying tourists but actively prevent their passage rather than allow any tourist development at all which leads one prominent member of councils Helder Povoa noting that tourism is his “worst nightmare”.

Government services

The government of Serifos is a feudalistic barony with its own lord, the only resident on the island. There is no local police force; instead, security is provided by a small number of armed volunteers who patrol the island. There are no hospitals or schools on-island, and residents must travel off-island to obtain medical care or education. Electricity and water services are limited to a few houses; inhabitants must carry their own drinking water supplies with them wherever they go.

Tourism

The only tourist attraction on Serifos is the small monastery of Panagia Kyriake; however, this has been closed to visitors since 2009 due to financial difficulties. There are no hotels or other accommodations available on-island.

Conclusion

Serifos is an uninhabited, volcanic island located in the Aegean Sea, southeast of Lesbos. It is currently part of the municipality of Mytilene, in the regional unit of Lesbos. Serifos is accessible by boat from Mytilene or via a short footpath from the nearby village of Kastro. It is not open to the general public.

FAQs

1 . What is the Climate Like on Serifos?

The climate is humid, with a hot and dry summer and a mild winter.

2. Is There Electricity on Serifos?

No, there is no electricity on Serifos. Visitors are limited to use of headlamps or torches when it is dark outside. There are however solar panels that can be used to charge electronic items during the day time.

3. Is Drinking Alcohol Allowed on Serifos?

No, although visitors are able to bring their own alcohol for personal consumption onto the island .

4. Is Wifi Available on Serifos?

Yes, there is wireless internet access available on the island.

5. Are Government Services Available on Serifos?

There are basic medical services and a small police presence present, but no other formal government services are currently available on the island. Volunteers from local organisations offer limited tours of the island in English and Greek during high season; inquire with them for more information.