The village of Glossa is located in the northern part of the island of Skopelos, on a hill above the port of Loutraki and about 10 km from the capital of the island of Skopelos . It is the second most visited place in Skopelos and retains a traditional character, as if tourism had not touched it in the least. It is a delightful cluster of white houses around taverns and small shops.
Despite the fact that the area has become quite famous thanks to the film "Mamma mia!" That made the wedding scene turn in the beautiful church of Agios Ioannis Kastri, Glossa still protects its authenticity!
Think that Alexandros Papadiamantis mentioned it as the "high village" in his story "Nostalgos".
Nobody can understand where exactly his name comes from and there are several versions: some think it is for its bizarre form, which resembles a language ("Glossa" in Greek), others believe it is for Knossa, the city built by the Minoans, the first inhabitants of the village. Some inhabitants instead think of a more sympathetic connection, or rather ironize on the numerous steps that must be taken to get there, so many that the tongue will touch the floor, for this reason it would therefore be called Glossa.
What we certainly know is that getting lost in this village would be a great pity!
What to visit in the Village of Glossa?
In the Village of Glossa you can take a tour through the streets of the town, lose yourself in the narrow streets that have a particular architecture influenced by the Macedonian domination, with whitewashed houses, two-storey buildings, tiled roofs and wooden balconies. In the alleys you can also meet women dressed in "foustanes" (local clothes), who speak in dialect and live in the traditional way.
You can learn about the rare breed of sheep famous for the excellent quality of their wool, you can enjoy good fresh fish and try the tasty seafood. Stop to admire the cultivation of plums and olives and then maybe take a tour inside the monastery of Agios Taxiarhi where you can see the early Christian temple built in 672 AD, the oldest temple in Skopelos. This Monastery was offered as a dependency of the Athos Monastery as the financial life of the village was directly influenced by the respective economic strength of the Athos Monastery and it all took place at the beginning of the 20th century.
You might fall in love with the chapel of Agios Ioannis, one of the most beautiful works of the whole island of Skopelos, and finally don't forget to check out the ancient Roman baths, located next to the port of Loutraki. The latter deserves a nice visit and a stop in the restaurants and taverns present, the best fish ever found here!
If you are romantic, visit the Cape Gouroni lighthouse. With its grandeur and the landscape in which it stands out, it leaves anyone looking at it in awe. But we advise you to get there on foot, the view you can enjoy will repay all your efforts. Among other things, when fatigue is felt, there are quite a few pretty beaches near the lighthouse where you can enjoy your well-deserved relaxation!
Around the village you can admire works of archaeological interest, such as ancient towers, palaces from various eras of the past. Eventually the village has undergone several dominations over time and these have left signs and traces that deserve to be admired for their beauty.
Before leaving the village, stop for something to eat in the central square and savor the dishes and the warm, family atmosphere that reigns in this small village, always welcoming towards the foreigner.
What is the origin of the village of Glossa?
The history of this village is long, we start from the acquisition of its own administration, which took place in 1825, then in 1835 it became a Municipality, electing Alexandris Sideris as mayor. The most important historical fact of Glossa occurs during the years of the Revolution; if you wonder why so many different styles in one village, now you have the answer. Glossa, in fact, during this period suffered the immigration of many foreigners from Thessaly, Macedonia, Evoia and Chalkidiki. This was the start of this fusion of customs and traditions that have influenced and handed down traditions from different peoples to this day.
The residents of Glossa were mainly winegrowers, producing excellent wines. Some were sailors and shipowners, in fact in Loutraki there was an organized shipyard, but not like that of Chora.
There are many historic buildings, and each one explains the history of this village. They are: the temples of Kathisma, Agios Apostoloi, Profitis Ilias, Agios Nikolaos in Loutraki and Agios Ioannis in Kastri, the latter having origins and traditions taken from the nearby Monastery of Athos.
In short, there are many attractions to be admired and most of them are historical-archaeological, so if you love history and archeology, a trip to Glossa is a must. You certainly won't regret it!