Schoinousa

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The Greek island Schoinoussa (Greek Σχοινούσσα ( f sg ) [ sçinusa ] also Σχοινούσα ) in the Lesser Ostkykladen. Along with several uninhabited islets, it forms the municipality Schoinoussa the Municipality of Naxos and Small Cyclades in the region South Aegean.

Location

Schoinoussa is located approximately 6 km south of Naxos. The nearest islands are Iraklia 3km southwest and Kato Koufonisi 3 km northeast. The coastline of 8.144 km ², a maximum of 4.5 km long and 3 km wide island is heavily dissected by numerous small bays. In the south, the uninhabited island Ofidoussa closes at a distance of only 50 meters to directly Argilos is a further 400 meters to the south. Aspronisi is located in the northeast one kilometers 200 meters to the southeast and Klidoura.

History

Presumably, the island was inhabited during the frühkykladischen time before the 2nd millennium BC. Archaeological finds have shown that Schoinoussa was inhabited since ancient times.

Due to abundant ceramic finds, one starts from large trading activities during the Byzantine period. Since the end of the 11th century AD the island was owned by the monastery Chozoviotissa ( Παναγία Χοζοβιώτισσα ) on Amorgos.

After the conquest of Constantinople during the Fourth Crusade Schoinoussa came to the Venetian Duchy of Archipelagos, which was founded in 1207 by Marco Sanudo. After the fleet Chaireddin Barbarossa had captured Naxos, began Ottoman rule. Probably the island was uninhabited because of pirate raids during the Ottoman period.

With the London Protocol of 1829 Schoinoussa was like the other Cyclades islands part of the new Greek state. Mainly people from Amorgos mid-19th century settled back on the island. At the beginning of the 20th century many people left the island to Athens. During the Second World War Schoinoussa was first then occupied by Italy from 1941 to 1943 and to 1944 by the German Wehrmacht. Due to the bad economic situation, many people were forced to leave the island after the war.

Although the transport links are still highly problematic, improved educational facilities and the emerging tourism have contributed to young families in the last two decades, choose the island as a place of residence.

Structure

The municipality Schoinoussa counts 227 inhabitants and consists of the following villages:

• Schoinoussa or Panagia ( Σχοινούσσα ( f sg ) ), 211 Ew.
• Mesaria ( Μεσαριά ( f sg ) ), 16 Ew.
• Mersini ( Μερσίνι ), the harbor is not recorded in the official statistics

• Argilos ( Άργιλος ( f sg ) )
• Klidoura ( Κλιδούρα ( f sg ) ) or Gaidoura ( Γαϊδούρα )
• Ofidoussa ( Οφειδούσσα ( f sg ) )
• Plaka ( Πλάκα ( f sg ) )

Economy

The population lives mainly on agriculture, next to tourism plays far more of a secondary role.

Conservation

Schoinoussa is part of the Natura 2000 area GR4220013 Mikres Kyklades: Irakleia, Schoinoussa, Koufonisia, Keros, Antikeri kai thal assia zoni ( Μικρές Κυκλάδες: από Κέρο μέχρι Ηράκλεια, Σχοινούσσα, Κουφονήσια, Κέρος, Αντικέρι και θαλάσσια ζώνη ).