8Ano Syros, Syros Island

Unlike the Cycladic villages painted entirely in white, Ano Syros has pastel-colored houses with Venetian charm. Built amphitheatrically on a hillside, its labyrinth of narrow streets was designed to protect against pirate attacks.

Bougainvillea spills from balconies, small tavernas serve ouzo and meze, and the sound of rebetiko (Greek folk music) drifts from hidden corners. Ano Syros is both historic and alive, its atmosphere largely unchanged for centuries.

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