The festival of Agios Sostis, apart from a taste of island tradition, will be a good occasion for a walk in the wild landscape of Sifnos. After about 45 minutes walk you will reach one of the 237 chapels and monasteries of the island, Ai Sostis, in the area where the mines of the island once operated. It is a church that was actually rebuilt from the beginning in 1970, because two years earlier the original was sunk in the sea along with part of the mines in the area. The festival of Ai Sostis, perhaps because it takes place outside the tourist season, makes the locals reverently keep the traditions and the simplicity of the island festival. The festival undertakes to set up the entire Cycladic feast after the service. In the dining room of the church it offers traditional chickpeas, braised beef with spaghetti and plenty of wine. The local organ players take on the music of the traditional island songs and the party overlooking the sea lasts for hours.

(photo credits: kaipoutheos.gr)