Ano Syros Explained

Ano Syros
Name Local:	Άνω Σύρος
Type:	municipal unit
Periph:	South Aegean
Periphunit:	Syros
Pop Municunit:	3611
Pop Community:	1856
Population As Of:	2021
Area Municunit:	67.0
Coordinates:	37.4667°N 80°W
Licence:	EM
Caption Skyline:	General view of Ano Syros

Ano Syros (Greek, Modern (1453-);: Άνω Σύρος, “Upper Syros”) is a town and a former municipality on the island of Syros, in the Cyclades, Greece. Since the 2011 local government reform it is part of the municipality Syros-Ermoupoli, of which it is a municipal unit.^[1] The municipal unit includes the uninhabited islands Gyaros (lying to the northwest of Syros) and Varvaroúsa. Population 3,611 (2021 census); land area 67.014km2.^[2] The municipal unit shares the island of Sýros with the municipal units of Ermoupoli and Poseidonia.

History

Ano Syros is the medieval settlement of Syros. It was built during the late Byzantine era or early Frankokratia. It is a classical cycladic medieval settlement that is densely built with narrow roads, circular order and a radial street plan.^[3] Its overall landscape resembles a fortified citadel. Ano Syros is inhabited by Catholic Greeks. The reason for it is the long period of Frankokratia in Syros that started immediately after the fourth crusade. Frankokratia ended during the 16th century but the Catholics of Syros came under French protection and Catholicism survived in the island.^[4] After founding of nearby Hermoupolis, Ano Syros ceased to be the administrative centre of Syros. Nevertheless, the settlement remained a religious centre since it is the seat of Roman Catholic Diocese of Syros and Milos.

During WW2 the city was occupied by the Italians, who wanted to create an Italian province with administrative capital in Ano Syros:

Places of interest

• Church of Saint George (Agios Georgios): This Catholic church is atop the hill of Ano Syros. It was originally built in 1208 but has been destroyed three times since and has been rebuilt.^[5]
• Capuchin monastery: It is a catholic monastery that was founded in 1637.^[6]
• Vamvakaris museum: It is a museum dedicated to Markos Vamvakaris

Twin towns — sister cities

Ano Syros is twinned with:

• Gołdap, Poland since 2000.^[7]
• Grillon, France since 1994.

People

• Markos Vamvakaris

External links

• Official website

Notes and References

1. Web site: ΦΕΚ B 1292/2010, Kallikratis reform municipalities. el. Government Gazette.
2. Web site: Population & housing census 2001 (incl. area and average elevation) . National Statistical Service of Greece . el . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20150921212047/http://dlib.statistics.gr/Book/GRESYE_02_0101_00098%20.pdf . 2015-09-21 .
3. Web site: Syros. Foundation of the Hellenic world. 24 December 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20150703041215/http://www2.egeonet.gr/aigaio/forms/fLemmaBodyExtended.aspx?lemmaID=10462#chapter_6. 3 July 2015. dead.
4. Web site: Ano Syros . hermoupolis.gr . 24 December 2014 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20150115054804/http://www.hermoupolis.gr/%CE%99%CF%83%CF%84%CE%BF%CF%81%CE%B9%CE%B1---%CE%A0%CE%BF%CE%BB%CE%B9%CF%84%CE%B9%CF%83%CE%BC%CE%BF%CF%82/%CE%91%CE%BD%CF%89-%CE%A3%CF%85%CF%81%CE%BF%CF%82---%CE%99%CF%83%CF%84%CE%BF%CF%81%CE%B9%CE%BA%CE%B1-%CE%A0%CF%81%CE%BF%CE%BB%CE%B5%CE%B3%CE%BF%CE%BC%CE%B5%CE%BD%CE%B1.aspx . 15 January 2015 .
5. Web site: Ιστορία Άνω Σύρου. teipir.gr. 24 December 2014. https://archive.today/20141224181631/http://hellas.teipir.gr/Thesis/Siros/Greek/AnoSyrohistory.html. 24 December 2014. dead.
6. Web site: Μοναχικά τάγματα και ιερές μονές. cathecclesia.gr. 24 December 2014. 4 March 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160304091622/http://www.cathecclesia.gr/hellas/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=30&Itemid=43. dead.
7. Web site: Twinnings. 2013-08-25. Central Union of Municipalities & Communities of Greece. 2017-06-30. https://web.archive.org/web/20170630221808/http://www.kedke.gr/uploads/twinnedcities.pdf. dead.