Ano Syros

High up, at the top of the hill above Ermoupoli, Ano Syros has stood proud for eight centuries. A medieval, Catholic settlement that seems plucked from another era — with labyrinthine alleys, stone arches and a view that, the moment you reach the top, will quite literally take your breath away.

A journey through time

Built in the 13th century by the Venetians, Ano Syros is one of the oldest medieval settlements in the Cyclades. Here the island’s Catholic character was established — a distinctiveness that endures to this day, with the monasteries of the Capuchins and the Jesuits dominating the hill. Every stone, every arch and every step carries a story spanning centuries.

Lost in the alleys

There is no “right” path through Ano Syros — and that is the whole magic of it. Let yourself get lost in the narrow, uphill cobbled lanes, pass beneath the stone arches and emerge suddenly onto a small square overlooking the sea. In the historic Piatsa, traditional coffee houses and little taverns invite you in for a coffee or a tsipouro, with locals welcoming you like an old friend.

Here time moves slowly — as slowly as you climb the steps toward the summit.
Ano Syros

Saint George & the view

At the top of the hill awaits the Catholic cathedral of Saint George. From its courtyard, one of the most striking views in all the Cyclades unfolds before you: Ermoupoli cascading down amphitheatrically toward the harbour, the endless blue of the Aegean and, on clear days, the neighbouring islands on the horizon. Save it for sunset — you won’t forget it.

In the footsteps of Markos Vamvakaris

Ano Syros is the birthplace of Markos Vamvakaris, the “patriarch of rebetiko.” Visit the small, atmospheric Markos Vamvakaris Museum, where photographs, personal belongings and his legendary bouzouki bring the island’s folk music tradition to life. And if you find yourself here in August, don’t miss the “August Moons” — rebetiko evenings under the full moon, with the Aegean as a backdrop.