Koukounaries
Encyclopedia
Koukounaries is a location and a beach in the southwest part of the island of Skiathos
in Greece
. It is 16 km southwest of the main town on the island. Skiathos
is part of the Sporades
group of islands in the Northern Aegean Sea
.
Koukounaries , means 'Stone Pines' in Greek. At Koukounaries there is a lagoon and a wooded peninsula with a Stone Pine
(Pinus pinea) forest separating the lagoon from the Aegean Sea. On the seaward side of the penisnula there is a popular fine-textured beach called 'Koukounaries Beach' or "Chrisi Ammos" . This is one of the few locations in Greece where a Stone Pine
forest still exists.
Koukounaries was once known as Maratha (Μάραθα). Until 1964, when Skiathos was designated by the Greek National Tourism Organisation
as a special development zone for tourism, the Town of Skiathos was the only settlement on the island. Following the GNTO's zoning, a paved road along the coast connected the Town of Skiathos to Koukounaries. Around the same time, the first large scale resort development on the island was built in Koukounaries. Koukounaries is the last stop of the bus route from Skiathos Town.
Currently, Koukounaries is a popular tourist destination during summer with numerous hotels, hostels, camping sites, tavernas, restaurants, bars, "ouzeri"
, and cafes.
Skiathos
Skiathos is a small Greek island in the northwest Aegean Sea. Skiathos is the westernmost island in the Northern Sporades group, east of the Pelion peninsula in Magnesia on the mainland, and west of the island of Skopelos.-Geography:...
in Greece
Greece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
. It is 16 km southwest of the main town on the island. Skiathos
Skiathos
Skiathos is a small Greek island in the northwest Aegean Sea. Skiathos is the westernmost island in the Northern Sporades group, east of the Pelion peninsula in Magnesia on the mainland, and west of the island of Skopelos.-Geography:...
is part of the Sporades
Sporades
The Sporades are an archipelago along the east coast of Greece, northeast of the island of Euboea, in the Aegean Sea. It consists of 24 islands, of which four are permanently inhabited: Alonnisos, Skiathos, Skopelos and Skyros.-Administration:...
group of islands in the Northern Aegean Sea
Aegean Sea
The Aegean Sea[p] is an elongated embayment of the Mediterranean Sea located between the southern Balkan and Anatolian peninsulas, i.e., between the mainlands of Greece and Turkey. In the north, it is connected to the Marmara Sea and Black Sea by the Dardanelles and Bosporus...
.
Koukounaries , means 'Stone Pines' in Greek. At Koukounaries there is a lagoon and a wooded peninsula with a Stone Pine
Stone Pine
The Stone Pine , is also called Italian Stone Pine, or Umbrella Pine , and Parasol Pine. It is in the pine family Pinaceae and occasionally listed under the invalid name Pinus sativa. The tree is native to the Mediterranean region...
(Pinus pinea) forest separating the lagoon from the Aegean Sea. On the seaward side of the penisnula there is a popular fine-textured beach called 'Koukounaries Beach' or "Chrisi Ammos" . This is one of the few locations in Greece where a Stone Pine
Stone Pine
The Stone Pine , is also called Italian Stone Pine, or Umbrella Pine , and Parasol Pine. It is in the pine family Pinaceae and occasionally listed under the invalid name Pinus sativa. The tree is native to the Mediterranean region...
forest still exists.
Koukounaries was once known as Maratha (Μάραθα). Until 1964, when Skiathos was designated by the Greek National Tourism Organisation
Greek National Tourism Organisation
The Greek National Tourism Organization , often appreviated as GNTO is the governmental department for the promotion tourism in the country of Greece. It functions under the supervision of the Hellenic Republic Ministry for Culture and Tourism....
as a special development zone for tourism, the Town of Skiathos was the only settlement on the island. Following the GNTO's zoning, a paved road along the coast connected the Town of Skiathos to Koukounaries. Around the same time, the first large scale resort development on the island was built in Koukounaries. Koukounaries is the last stop of the bus route from Skiathos Town.
Currently, Koukounaries is a popular tourist destination during summer with numerous hotels, hostels, camping sites, tavernas, restaurants, bars, "ouzeri"
Ouzo
Ouzo is an anise-flavored aperitif that is widely consumed in Greece and Cyprus, and a symbol of Greek culture.-History:Traditionally, tsipouro is said to have been the pet project of a group of 14th century monks living in a monastery on holy Mount Athos. One version of it is flavored with anise...
, and cafes.
Population
| Year | Population |
|---|---|
| 2001 | 126 |
External links
- Municipality of Skiathos
- National Tourism Organisation (GNTO)
- Koukounaries on GTP Travel Pages (in English and Greek)