Ios · Chora & the port · Σκάρκος
Skarkos, a Bronze Age town above the bay
On a low hill in the valley between the port and Chora lies Skarkos, one of the best-preserved Early Cycladic settlements in the Aegean. It was a town of about 2800 BC, with streets, drains and two-storey houses whose stone walls still stand up to nearly 3 m. It has been excavated, restored and opened to visitors, with paths and signs, and in 2008 it won the European Union prize for cultural heritage, the Europa Nostra award.
A town of about 2800 BC on a terraced hill between the port and Chora, with houses still standing two storeys high
The story of Skarkos
Skarkos was a busy town at the height of the Early Cycladic culture, the age of the white marble figurines. Its people farmed the valley, fished and traded across the Aegean; the houses had upper floors, stores and workshops, and the town had drains for the winter rains. Finds from the site are in the Archaeological Museum in Chora, which makes a good pair with a visit.
Good to know
Before you go to Skarkos
Getting there
A short drive or walk from the port or from Chora; signposted off the road between them.
When to go
Early morning or late afternoon; there is little shade.
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