Alonissos History

Alonissos, third in size of the Northern Sporades, took its modern day name after the liberation of Greece by the Turkish tyranny and the establishment of the New Greek nation. In ancient times, Alonissos was called Ikos and it is possible that Alonissos was once the name of the small island of Kyra Panagia.

The relics of pre historical times that are found on Alonissos such a Cyclopean walls, fortification, charnel-houses etc. show us how little we do know about the island, the history of which is so old that it is easy to be forgotten as the centuries pass by.

It is positively know that like all the islands of the Northern Sporades, the Dollops populated Alonissos, a relation to the tribe of Pelasgi, who with the
passing of time became dangerous pirates, plaguing the Aegean Sea. The Athenian fleet under the command of Kimonos challenged them resulting in the defeat and annexation of all the islands to the Athenian state. Later on the Macedonian king Philip had an eye on Alonissos a fact that compelled the great orator of ancient times Demosthenes to write his fiery speech “about Alonissos”.

In the times of the Byzantine Empire, Alonissos was flourishing a fact made known to us by the monuments of that period, which up to now attract the attention of the visitors. The island was in these times conquered by the Francs, who completed the existing fortifications.

Finally, it submitted like the rest of Greece to the Turks. Under the Turkish tyranny, the island was deprived of any special interest. The inhabitants were few and agricultural production small. The island depended more on the neighboring, more populated island of Skopelos. It is only now, in recent years, that the island is flourishing and it owes this to its clear waters, beautiful coastline, pine clad areas and the hospitality of its inhabitants.