Skopelos Architecture

Dating from the 18th, 19th and 20th centuries, the traditional architecture of Skopelos has incorporated a variety of influences that give it an absolutely unique flair. It was, in fact, precisely this fusion of architectural styles that led to Skopelos Town being declared a traditional settlement in 1978 by presidential decree.

One of the first things that stands out about Skopelos Town is the way in which its layout has been adapted to the natural inclination of the ground. Sprawling amphitheatrically around the port, its whitewashed houses climb up no less than three hills, reaching all the way to the Venetian Castle. Around the narrow cobblestone alleys, one can also see a few charming domed galleries, blooming gardens with lush bougainvilleas, and other elements making use of the terrain.

Geographical proximity to Pelion and the number of immigrants that arrived from the neighboring region of Macedonia have had a profound impact on the folk architecture of Skopelos. Thus, especially in the island’s capital town, it is possible to find some surviving two-story or three-story stone-built residences with wooden hip roofs covered by shale. A characteristic shared by many of these buildings is that the facade of the last floor is often covered by wattle and daub, forming the so-called sachnisi, a kind of bay window based on wooden beams. Instead of a sachnisi, other constructions feature covered balconies, which afforded residents much-needed additional space.

After the establishment of the Greek State in 1829, rich merchants and skippers brought a new architectural style to the island; many neoclassical edifices were erected in those years, boasting rich friezes and other marble decorations. Last but not least, many of the island’s churches were built during the years when Skopelos was under Venetian rule, evincing some Venetian influences.