Come see the churches of Greece’s Skopelos Island

…where Panagitsa Tower is just the beginning.

All photos: Marilyn Yung

How do I stay for three weeks on a Greek island that contains more than 300 churches and 24 monasteries and leave the island with only a handful of photos of them? Tell me how that happens.

Here’s how: they’re everywhere. One can’t possibly photograph them all.

That was me last June when my husband and I spent three weeks on Skopelos Island in Greece, as part of our five-plus week journey across Greece. Yes, we were on the island for three weeks and yes, this meager post contains the entirety of my church photo collection. I wish I had seen more, but that’s for the return trip, right?!

No matter where you look, whether in town or in the countryside, you’ll see a church of some sort.

*A chapel, part of Panagitsa Tower of Skopelos Old Town.*

Some churches — whether they’re in the town (Skopelos Chora) or on the greater island — are quite large and are designed to hold a small congregation.

Others, on the other hand, are private and built by a family for their own use.

*We took a short tour inside this church, Agios Michael Synadon in Skopelos Town.* *Here’s a post on that visit.*

*This is the back side of Agios Michael Synadon. The curved apse contains the altar. The exterior of this church features Roman sarcophagi, pieces of old stone coffins.*

*The interior of Agios Michael Synadon. Read this post to learn about our experience inside.*

Even so, you’re looking at what photos I do have because (let’s be real), these churches are simply stunning.

Spectacular yet humble.

Ornate on the inside, yet unassuming on the outside.

In short, so very different from what I’m used to here in the United States that I was captivated.

*This little church was closed the handful of times we walked by. Notice the turquoise-colored glazed “plates” above the door and on the tower.*

Each church is so different in design from the others! To think that someone designed these buildings, supervised their construction, and saw them built in this little village where they continue to be used to this day.

*This little church is wedged deep into the winding streets of Skopelos Town.*

*Here’s a closeup of the beautiful icon painting above the front door.*

*My husband peeked inside this church and here is what he saw. Notice the gold-painted icons at the altar.*

*A sunny church just around the corner.*

*Panagitsa tou Pyrgo, the Holy Mary of the Castle, greets everyone when you enter Skopelos harbor.*

*Notice the church bell tower in the center back of this photo. Churches are everywhere!*

Once you wander outside of Skopelos Chora, you’ll start to see the many small, private family churches that dot the countryside.

*We hiked across the island one evening and stopped to rest outside some private family churches along the way. We signed up for a tour with Heather Parsons, founder of Skopelos Trails.*

*Here is another church we encountered on our cross-island hike from Skopelos Chora to Panormos.*

*And here’s another. Note the curved apse that usually contains the altar.* *Photo: Marilyn Yung*

*Here’s a church we noticed on our return one afternoon from Stafilos Beach. Read this post for more information.*

*Still more churches were seen on our hike to Panormos.*

And now let’s head back to town to see a few more…

*Churches seem to be literally around every corner.*

*This tiny church was perched on a bluff above the Old Town. We walked by this at least once a day on our way up or down the steep hill that took us downtown along the harbor.*

*Another stacked belfry nestled deep with the labyrinth of Skopelos Chora.*

Thanks for reading! I hope you enjoyed these photos of the churches we saw on Skopelos Island in Greece, including those in Skopelos Chora. Follow my blog for more posts from our travels last summer. Also, check out my categories for more destinations near and far.

4 replies on “Come see the churches of Greece’s Skopelos Island”

Its a wonderful problem that travelers encounter in certain places, but it is a dilemma. When there is so much material how do you choose. Its hard not to either not take any photos or end up feeling like the Google car, just cataloging everything.

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