Syros Ermoupolis

General information

Ermoupolis in Syros: The beautiful town of Ermoupolis is the capital not only of Syros but the entire Cyclades as well. It is a commercially and culturally developed sea settlement of unique architectural beauty, a great reminder of the brilliant past of the city.

This town was founded by the refugees and Greek revolutionaries who came to the French-protected Syros from various parts of Greece, such as Chios, Psara, Kassos, Crete and Asia Minor, to escape the massacres conducted by the Turks during and after the Greek War of Independence (1821). Those people put their powers, faith and capacities together and created the magnificent Ermoupolis, which became prosperous very quickly and turned into the most important commercial shipping nation as well as the cultural center of the New Greek Nation of the 19th century.

Ermoupolis owes its name to Hermes, the god of trade. In fact, Ermoupolis translates into "the town of Hermes". The great economic prosperity of the city was followed by social and cultural development and the appearance of a Greek bourgeoisie. The glorious past of the capital is still apparent in its wonderful neoclassical architecture: old mansions, marble paved streets, grandiose marble squares, imposing churches, monuments, statues, and well-preserved superb neoclassical buildings adorn the amphitheatrically built city. This architecture justifies the various names the town often used to be called, like Little Milan and the Duchess of the Aegean. 
Vaporia Quarter is the quaintest neighborhood of Ermoupolis and the perfect place for a stroll to marvel at the impressive architecture.

In front of all this amazing beauty and noble architecture, Eleftherios Venizelos said once that "Greece was reborn in Ermoupolis", and everyone who has the chance to visit this marvel will agree with this statement. To build this marvelous town, many European architects came from various countries like Germany, Italy, and Greece, and joined their talents in a glorification of artistic and architectural beauty.

The magnificent Miaouli Square is one of the most beautiful squares in Greece. It is known for its tall palm tree that shadows small coffee shops and restaurants, creating an attractive scene and relaxing atmosphere. The square is surrounded by the superb building of the Town Hall which was designed by the famous architect Ernst Ziller. It is among the top impressive neoclassical buildings in Greece and the most grandiose of all the mansions in Syros.

Apart from the municipality, this architectural marvel also houses the Archaeological Museum. Also surrounding the square is the Cultural Centre of Hermoupolis, a beautiful building with high-painted ceilings and chandeliers, where various cultural activities take place throughout the year, such as concerts and interesting art exhibitions.

In Miaouli Square is also a round marble stand with beautiful relief panels with representations of Apollo and the Nine Muses. On this bandstand, the town's philharmonic band often gives concerts. The Apollo Theatre, which stands on Vardaki Square and was designed by the French architect Pietro Sampo, is also worth seeing. It is a miniature of the famous La Scala of Milan and used to house many famous artists and present Italian operas. Several events still take place their, especially during the summer season.