Alonnisos
Greek island in the Northern Sporades, known for its marine park.
Wikipedia / Wikimedia Commons
Alonnisos is a Greek island in the Aegean Sea, the third member of the Northern Sporades after Skiathos and Skopelos. It is also the name of a village on the island and the municipality that encompasses the island and the village. The island was known as Liadromia in the Middle Ages until the 19th century and was renamed in 1838 after being mistakenly identified with the ancient Halonnesus; in antiquity it was called Icus or Ikos.
- Location
- Aegean Sea, east of mainland Greece and Magnesia, northeast of Euboea, northwest of Skyros
- Area
- 64 km² (island); 129.607 km² (municipality)
- Population
- 3,138 (2021 census)
- Main port
- Patitiri
- Ancient name
- Icus or Ikos
- Medieval name
- Liadromia
- Marine park established
- 1992
Lore & Background
In the Middle Ages and until the 19th century, the island was known as Liadromia. It was renamed in 1838, as it was – mistakenly, according to later research – identified with Halonnesus of Antiquity. In reality, the present island of Alonnisos was known as Icus or Ikos to the Ancient Greeks, mentioned as having been colonised by Cnossians. The fleet of Attalus and the Rhodians sailed past Scyrus to Icus, and Phanodemus wrote an account of the island.
Reader's Guide
Alonnisos is significant as the site of the Alonnisos Marine Park, created in 1992 to protect the Mediterranean monk seal (Monachus monachus) and other animals. The island's ecosystem on the north side is in good condition, and monk seals are common around the island. Tourism is now the main industry, though fishing remains popular. The island was heavily damaged in an earthquake on 9 March 1965, leading many inhabitants to relocate from the old village (Chora) to Patitiri. The old village has since been restored and used for tourism. The municipality includes several other islands with small resident populations, and the total land area is 129.607 km². The island's beaches consist of pebbles, and agriculture produces almonds, grapes, figs, and olives.
Did You Know?
- The island was known as Liadromia from the Middle Ages until the 19th century.
- It was renamed in 1838 after being mistakenly identified with the ancient Halonnesus.
- The Mediterranean monk seal is common around the island, and a marine park was created in 1992.
- In July 2021, a monk seal named Kostis, the island's mascot, was killed by a spearfisher.
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