Traditional Settlements of Sifnos

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The traditional settlements and the historical town-centers are the basic characteristics of the traditional architectural and cultural heritage and of the physiognomy of Greece and they are the impressive sights of the country. Various ways of living, technical methods, aesthetics, artistic currents and social relations, which have been formed during the adventurous historical development are stamped and expressed in these sites.

The wealth and the diversity of the Greek architectural heritage is present in most of 650 scheduled traditional settlements and in thousands of scheduled buildings, as well as in the ancient and Byzantine monuments which embellish the Greek countryside, the coasts or the mountainous regions as well as the urban centers.

The preservation and the promotion of the architectural heritage is a constituent of the mild tourist development and of the provision of alternative possibilities regarding every kind of tourist activity. Many buildings of traditional architecture are used today in a different way than they used to and they lodge different services than in the past, such as tourist accommodation, museums, exhibitions, restaurants, public and municipal services etc.

At the same time the historical centers of the towns are revitalized, with building renovations, pedestrianizations and space reformations, becoming more attractive for the residents and the visitors. Thus, in the town planning web of the most important Greek cities, new poles rise from the rank, which are very important for the research on the urban traditional architecture and the development of the urban centers of the country, in the ages.

Apollonia, Artemonas, Kastro, Ano Petali, Kato Petali, Faros and Vathi have been characterized as traditional settlements of Sifnos.