Syros Maps

Syros is an island in the central Cyclades and the administrative capital of the Cyclades region. The island covers 32 square miles and has a permanent population of approximately 21,500 residents, with the majority living in Ermoupoli, the capital. Ermoupoli, named after Hermes, god of commerce, is built around a natural harbor and serves as the largest town and main port of the Cyclades, functioning as the archipelago's administrative, commercial, and shipping center.

Ermoupoli features impressive 19th-century neoclassical architecture resulting from the town's prosperity as Greece's leading port in the 1800s, before Piraeus developed. Notable buildings include the Apollo Theater, modeled after La Scala in Milan and one of Greece's oldest opera houses, the grand Town Hall in Miaouli Square, and numerous elegant mansions. Above the town rise two hills: Ano Syros, the medieval Catholic settlement with narrow lanes and the Cathedral of Saint George, and Vrontado with the Orthodox Church of the Resurrection.

Syros has a significant Roman Catholic minority, a legacy of Venetian and Frankish rule and later French protection, making it unique among Greek islands. The island has beaches around its coast, including Galissas, Kini, and Vari, and several traditional villages in the interior and on the coasts. Syros maintains a year-round population and economy less dependent on tourism than most Cycladic islands, with shipping, shipyards, and public administration providing employment. The island serves as a ferry hub with connections throughout the Cyclades, to Athens, and to other island groups.

The Facts:
Region: South Aegean.
Capital: Ermoupoli.
Towns and villages: Ermoupoli, Ano Syros, Vari.
Population: ~ 21,500.
Area: 32 sq mi (84 sq km).