Syros Full of Culture

ARCHAEOLOGICAL MUSEUM OF ERMOUPOLI

The archaeological museum of Syros was founded in 1834 and it is one of the oldest museums of Greece. Since 1899 it is housed in 4 rooms of the City Hall of Ermoupolis and offers an independent entrance from the historic square. The Museum’s collections include exhibits such as the Amfikypellon, a tubular cup 15 cm in height from the end of the 3rd millennium, a compass, a vase 7 cm in height from the second half of the 3rd millennium, a marble statuette of a female figure 35 cm in height from 730 BC and other artifacts, sculptures and inscriptions from the early Cycladic and Byzantine period. The museum also hosts works of the archaeologist Christos Tsountas.

THEATER APOLLON

The historic Theater Apollon is one of the major attractions of Syros and constitutes an emblem of the island’s cultural heritage. Created in 1864 by the Italian architect Pietro Sampo who was inspired by 4 stunning Italian standards including the Scala di Milano, the theater Apollon adorns the heart of the capital to this day. The Apollo Theater first opened its doors with an Italian theater troupe that among others performances staged the famous Italian opera La Traviata. Its architectural splendor though did not manage to prevent the major catastrophes that the theater suffered over the years. The Apollon theater was forced to close and to spend a long period of renovations and interventions with funding from the state, with the full support of GNTO and the artistic supervision of Dimitris Fortsas as well as of the architect Peter Pikionis until 2000. Today the theater hosts various artistic and cultural events such as the Festival of the Aegean, famous plays and world-class performances.

The Apollon theater hosts some of the most important cultural events, operas and amazing theatrical works from local and international theatrical troupes. Theater enthusiasts can find information on upcoming performances and learn about reservations and tickets for plays and events they wish to attend through the theater’s calendar of events. The Apollon theater also houses the Theater Museum or else “the memory place” founded in 2002. The Museum hosts findings from local and other artists who played an important role in the history of this monumental theater, a theater being the ultimate alternative for entertainment and unrivaled amusement on the island.

ARCHITECTURE

It is not a surprise that the Queen of the Cyclades stands out for its impressive architectural culture that has predetermined the unparalleled blossoming of the Cycladic civilization. The first signs of architectural growth appeared during the period 1821-1835 by refugees who settled on the island and brought along basic architectural elements influenced by the Western and Eastern civilizations as well as from classicism.

Classicism is characterized by two-storey houses with an upper floor and a basement, stone-plastered walls, wooden floors, roofs, roof tiles, wooden cornices, balconies, open terraces, courtyards and outdoor staircases connecting the two floors.

Along with classicism the Venetians and Genoese bring to the island one more characteristic of urban construction inspired by the Italian Renaissance. Buildings become multistoried with tiled roofs and large symmetrical openings.

Gradually Ermoupolis entirely adopts the European classicism while refugee influences are being preserved only in popular neighborhoods.

In 1837 Wilhelm von Weiler implements the first street plan and establishes the monumental neoclassical architecture of Syros which becomes a symbol of status for the island.

During the period between 1840-1860, great architects from Greece, Italy and Germany adopt along with the stream of classicism, romanticism and devise a new architectural structure known as the Neoclassical Architecture of Syros. The new architectural structure which follows the street plan is characterized by the two-storey or three-storeyed solid dwellings as well as dwellings housing stores or warehouses on their ground floors covering in such way the whole surface of the plot. The buildings are made of stone with wooden floors and are supported by arches. Two wall-building types are followed, stone pitching with filled joints and ashlaring either separately, or in combination while the marble begins to appear as a facade covering material for the walls, as a partition material for the floors, as parapet or for the crowning of buildings. The types of buildings differ depending on the plot, the altitudinal dimensions and the financial situation of owners that defines the outdoor decoration with impressive or not additions and interventions.

By the mid-19th century the neoclassical architecture of Athens makes its appearance. The Athenian architecture is characterized by plastered surfaces, impressive marble facades, clay columns and statues, wooden French doors as well as the use of iron which is greatly adopted around the 1880s. For many years the construction activity remains limited and by 1976 all buildings are being built according to the street plan.