How much do we really know about the Greek islands and their history? What were they called in the past, and how have they changed over the centuries? To whom did they belong? Did you know that Antiparos, a beautiful small island in the Cyclades, has its own special history? Few people know that the castle was given as a dowry to a man.
Antiparos, the Greek Cycladic island with a special history
According to history, Antiparos and its castle were a well-fortified settlement that had a certain form for many years. The Venetians built the castle in the 15th century, and it had a different structure from that of a classic fortified settlement. It was not on a high and dominant point, unlike most of the Cycladic islands. Antiparos, formerly known as “Oliaros” during the Byzantine era, faced numerous raids, mainly by Saracens. At the beginning of the 15th century, it had been a base of pirates who were preying on the strait of Antiparos, the “14-foot strait”.
The whole island has been given as a dowry
The period of pirates ended when the island’s ruler became the Venetian Giovanni Lorenano. In fact, the island was given as a dowry! Antiparos was then the dowry of his wife Maria Somarripa, whose family were lords of Paros and relatives of the Sanudes.
Giovanni Lorentano built his house on the island and essentially revived the island. He set up new residents at his own expense, building houses around the “House of the Lord”, the Castle around 1440. Forty years later, Antiparos was again the subject of a dowry. Antiparos was the dowry that Domenico Pizani, son of the Duke of Crete, received for his marriage to Princess Fiorenza, the daughter of the Duke of Naxos.
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Antiparos remained in the House of Pizani until 1537, when it re-entered the jurisdiction of the House of Lorenano. However, the Ottoman corsair Hairedin Barbarossa looted the island in the same year. Antiparos experienced various adventures and historical events, then fought against the Ottomans during the Greek Revolution of 1821. It joined the Greek State in 1832.
Holidays in Antiparos
Antiparos Island is an ideal choice if you want a cosmopolitan feeling during your vacation. It’s a small, picturesque Greek island in the Cyclades that has experienced a significant increase in tourism in recent years. With its beautiful beaches and picturesque alleys, you’ll definitely experience what we call “Holidays with a Cycladic color”.
Antiparos was given as a dowry twice in history. First, it was the dowry of Maria Somarripa when she married Venetian Giovanni Lorenano in the 15th century. The island was given again as a dowry around 1480 to Domenico Pizani, son of the Duke of Crete, for his marriage to Princess Fiorenza, daughter of the Duke of Naxos.
During the Byzantine years, Antiparos was formerly called 'Oliaros'. The island's name changed over the centuries as different rulers and civilizations governed it.
The castle of Antiparos was built by the Venetians in the 15th century. Giovanni Lorenano, a Venetian ruler, built his house on the island around 1440 and constructed the castle, known as the 'House of the Lord', while also establishing new residents and buildings around it.
At the beginning of the 15th century, Antiparos had been a base of pirates who preyed on the strait of Antiparos, known as the '14-foot strait'. The island also dealt with various raids, mainly by Saracens during the Byzantine period. This pirate period ended when Giovanni Lorenano became the island's ruler.
Antiparos joined the Greek State in 1832, following its participation in the Greek Revolution of 1821. The island had previously endured Ottoman rule and was looted by Ottoman corsair Hairedin Barbarossa in 1537.
