The villages and settlements of Sifnos reflect in a distinct way the Cycladic beauty and architecture, offering the visitor unique experiences. Specifically, Agios Loukas, Apollonia, Artemonas, Vathi, Exambela, Kamares, Kastro, Katavati, Kato Petali, Pano Petali, Platis Gialos, Pharos, Gironisos, Chrysopigi are really worth visiting.
Apollonia, the capital of Sifnos, took its name from god Apollo, as well as the name Stavri from the crossroads (stavrodromi) that exist in the area. A traditional settlement, meeting the needs of residents and tourists, with banks, restaurants, rooms to let, hotels, bars, tourist shops. The summer nights vibrates with life, with entertainment options for all tastes. The Rabagas square, suitable for entertainment, owes its name to the well-known publisher Kleanthis Triantafyllou Rabagas.
In Artemonas, the name of which comes from the cult of the goddess Artemis, one can meet the church of Panagia Kochi, of great historical value, traditional bakehouses, patisseries, pottery, mansion houses, neoclassical buildings with large courtyards and the center of the settlement with stunning view of the windmills, admiring the Castle, the magnificent Sea and many Cycladic islands. Artemonas was the birthplace of great men such as Gryparis Ioannis, Nicholas Chrysogelos and many others. Every year, the three-day gastronomy festival "Nicholaos Tselementes" takes place, with entries from all the Cycladic islands, as well as other competitions, events and exhibitions.
Exambela, a traditional settlement and one of the biggest villages with churches, is the birthplace of Aristomenis Prevelegiou, a poet, translator and univeristy doctor of philosophy and history of art. Born in the same place, Nikolaos Tselementes, the great cooking teacher and writer, was established by innovating in the high gastronomy. A very beautiful village with many sights, such as the tower of Vrissi close to the monastery of Panagia Vrisis, which is worth visiting, with an exceptional architecture, a museum of Byzantine art with a unique collection of manuscripts, icons and ecclesiastical exhibits.
Kastro (Castle), the jewel of Sifnos and one of the most beautiful parts of the island, was the old capital, the seat of the Archdiocese from the 9th-6th century BC, the most picturesque settlement and the most important, from an archaeological point of view. As Herodotus says, the ancient "city-state" (asty) flourished in the 6th century. With temple and theater dedicated to god Dionysos, luxurious public marble buildings, it has been inhabited since prehistoric times until today. The first installation took place in the 3rd millennium BC. Its name comes from the castle formed by the buildings. His walls had a strong defensive character and until now it maintains the building fortification (Venetian) unaltered. With two defensive rings of buildings built together with each other, mansions in the interior for greater protection and popular houses in the outer ring, with prytaneion and market, as well as with the 1st school of the 16th century BC, it was the crown of all, as the school of the Holy Sepulcher (School of Panagios Tafos) from the middle of the 16th century, known as the school Archipelagos, was located at the point where the cemetery of the settlement is located today. Along with the two twin churches, Agios Stefanos and Agios Ioannis Kalyvitos, they formed the first case of free higher education in Greece, where great philologists graduated from, notably Chrysogelos, the first teacher of the Nation (Genos) and many others, such as John Gryparis, poet and great teacher, Aristomenis Provelegios, Kleanthis Triantafyllos Rabagas, a fighter journalist, publisher and poet, with great history in the field, priests and metropolitans Universal patriarchs. In 2007, the Swiss organization awarded Sifnos as the island of poets and culture.
The ruins of the acropolis (6th century BC), dominating the top of the hill, the built-in sarcophagi that we find in the narrow streets of Kastro, the 6 gates - Loggia - the galleries through which one passes to enter the settlement, the 16 churches we meet walking along the narrow streets as well as the marble decorative floors and the columns on the alleys that support the courtyards of the houses, confirm the enormous historical value of Kastro, the passage of the seasons through the centuries.
In the East of Kastro we find the picturesque chapel of the Eptamartyres, on the rock with the background of the Sea and to the north, an ancient path leading to the most ideal place for diving from rocks, Panagia Poulati.
In the west of the settlement and at the foot of the hill there is a small beach, Seralia, an ancient port, whose name means palaces (existed in the area), maintained until today, with picturesque taverns, in a magical landscape. Kastro is undoubtedly a picturesque settlement that offers the visitor the ultimate tranquility and relaxation, with a unique view and with easy and direct access to taverns, cafes, bars, mini market.
The island is famous not only for its history but also for its cuisine, as the great master of cooking, Nicholas Tselementes, lived and grew up there, with a rich tradition in gastronomy. Thus, in gourmet restaurants, we can taste unique flavors and choose among taverns with special traditional flavors, fish taverns with fresh fish, taverns (mezedopoleia) for all tastes, bakehouses with unique sweets, such as the famous almonds (amygdalota) of Sifnos.
The protagonist of the night entertainment is the Strait of Apollonia, with plenty of bars for all tastes. At this very place, evening cultural events are organized, focusing on traditional nights, theater, exhibitions and festivals, leaving the visitor the best impressions.
