“Cook, eat, share, laugh, enjoy the Greek way”
7 Day Greek Culinary Holiday on Syros Island, Cyclades
Villa Maria, Ydras 42, Ermoupolis, Syros, Cyclades, Greece
Culinary Vacation in Greece
Discover the Greek cuisine on this Greek island holiday. This holiday will give you the chance to get acquainted with various aspects of the Greek cuisine on Syros, one of the most beautiful Greek islands. Four different cooking classes will teach you secrets and techniques of traditional recipes using organic, local and seasonal products. Learn how to forage wild herbs and new ways to use them, sample rare wines and cheeses, visit the local market and taste exquisite local specialties, enjoy a beach picnic and swim in pristine beaches, explore fishing villages, traditional settlements and local tavernas. Live for a week in Ermoupolis, a magnificent town with rich history and culture and fascinating culinary tradition and savor the old world charm of a 19th-century mansion!
Meet the instructors
Elisa & Maria
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Highlights
- Tasting of Greek wines and cheeses
- Market tour/sampling local specialties
- Traditional, original recipes with authentic experience
- 6 nights accommodation in a listed 19th-century mansion
- Healthy, organic, local, seasonal, delicious food
- Unique setting on an island with a rich history
- Foraging and a special class on herbs
- Beach picnic (weather permitting)
Skill level
- Beginner
- Intermediate
4 days with instruction in English
The organizer also speaks: French, Greek, Spanish
Group size: 4-10 participants
Airport transfer included:
Syros Island National Airport
Accommodation
Check-in Time:
14:00
Check-out Time:
11:00
Facilities
- Dining area
- Environmentally friendly
- Kitchen
- Lounge
- Multilingual staff
- Smoke-free property
- Special menu request
- Terrace
- Yoga deck
- Free Wi-Fi
- Internet access
- Laundry
- Tour assistance
- Wedding
- Wireless internet
Villa Maria is a listed 19th-century neo-classical mansion. Built by a local factory owner in 1873 at the height of Ermoupolis’ prosperity, it is a fine example of the architecture of the period. In restoring it, all the original features such as wooden floors and ceilings, marble bathrooms, decorative moldings as well as used antique furniture have been preserved to give it a comfortable but authentic feel.
The villa has 8 double rooms and a large two-bedroom suite that can be rented separately or in any combination. The second-floor balconies and the roof terrace have panoramic views over the town, the port and across to the neighboring islands. Behind the villa is a courtyard with plants, built-in seating and a shaded dining area.
The villa is on a pedestrian street right in the middle of town, yet a haven of peace and quiet. It is two minutes walk from the main square and market, and five minutes walk from the Vaporia. This is the town’s ‘Little Venice’, a lido with cafes and crystal-clear water for swimming.
Program
Day 1
- Arrival by morning or evening ferry. For those arriving in the morning, free time to explore the town or have a swim at Vaporia.
- Evening welcome drinks and buffet dinner with local specialties.
- Getting to know each other and talk about the week’s schedule.
Day 2
- Breakfast in the courtyard. Organic and homemade! With freshly baked wholemeal bread, cakes such as carob, cinnamon and orange, nuts and raisins, jams made with fruit from the garden (fig with rose geranium, lemon/lavender, Seville orange marmalade), thyme honey, butter and yoghurt from the local dairy farm, our homemade seed, fig and nut granola, and fresh fruit.
- 10:30: COOKING CLASS 1: Grains, pulses and stuffed vegetables. Learn the basics about Greek cuisine. Why it is one of the more balanced and healthiest in the world. Secrets and techniques. A hands-on three-hour class during which we will prepare a Greek feast of several dishes that you will then enjoy in the shaded courtyard. Some of the dishes we may prepare are parsley/garlic dip, beetroot/walnut and yogurt salad, split peas purée with caramelized onions, capers and sun-dried tomatoes, chickpeas with rosemary, stuffed peppers and tomatoes with herbs, bulgur, pine nuts and black currants, sweet milk pie, and many more!
- Lunch in the courtyard
- Free evening
Day 3
- Breakfast in the courtyard
- Market tour: We will visit the fruit and fish market, where we will shop for today's class, a shop selling loukoumia (a kind of mastic or rose flavored Turkish delight) and halvadopites (a kind of nougats), the traditional sweets Syros is famous for, as well as shops where you can find all the local products from the Cyclades and sample some of them (louza, the local cured ham, many different kinds of cheese, the award-winning thyme honey, capers, rock samphire, olives and olive oil, olive oil soaps, pickled artichokes, sun-dried tomatoes, pasta, liqueurs etc.)
- 11:30: COOKING CLASS 2: A seafood feast. We will prepare fish and seafood traditional recipes such as fish roe dip, steamed skate with lemon/ mustard sauce, octopus salad with potatoes, capers and rock samphire, anchovies grilled in vine leaves with fennel/lemon sauce or sardines stuffed with herbs, fried cod with caper aioli and beetroots, shrimp saganaki, and for dessert a traditional semolina halwa or a lemon verbena and lavender sorbet.
- Afternoon rest or swim.
Day 4
- Breakfast in the courtyard
- A free day with several suggestions for optional activities depending on the weather and the group's mood!
- OPTION 1: Beach picnic. You will visit one of the pristine northern beaches, accessible only by boat or foot. You can opt for a short taxi drive and a boat trip (if the weather permits) or a short drive and a 45-minute walk in spectacular scenery. You will spend the day at the beach and have a picnic there with some things you can grab at the local market.
- OPTION 2: Visit Kini, one of the nicest and most popular beaches, with easy access by taxi/bus. Spend the morning at the beach and enjoy a late lunch in one of the waterfront fish tavernas.
- OPTION 3: For those with a special interest in herbs and their culinary and medicinal uses, take an extra class with a herb specialist. You will go foraging and then talk about the different uses of herbs and prepare a simple meal using the herbs you have picked. (This needs advance notice to confirm availability and its cost is 100€ per person).
Day 5
- Breakfast in the courtyard.
- 10:30: COOKING CLASS 3: Doughs, pastries and pies. We will prepare some traditional recipes using phyllo or an olive oil and yogurt pastry, make olive bread and a couple of salads. Some sample dishes are ladenia, a Greek vegan pizza, zucchini, goat cheese and mint pie, a unique cheese pie.
- Lunch in the courtyard.
- In the evening, we will visit Ano Syros, the traditional medieval settlement perched on the hill above Ermoupolis, walk in the cobblestone streets, admire the spectacular views.
- For dinner we will try the iconic Greek street food at its best in a place that is locals' favourite.
Day 6
- Breakfast in the courtyard.
- Free morning to visit some of the town’s sights and museums or have a swim.
- 17:00: COOKING CLASS 4: a meze feast. On this last evening, we will prepare a feast with different mezedes, small dishes that will accompany our wine tasting. We will try white, rose and red wines from small producers of several Greek regions. We will also have a cheese tasting of sheep, goat and cow cheeses and we will use cheese in some of our recipes. Some of the dishes we may prepare are flour pie with feta cheese and eggs, aubergine rolls with ricotta cheese and tomato sauce, figs stuffed with goat cheese and mint, smoked aubergine dip, raw zucchini salad with lemon and herbs, black lentil and barley salad with red peppers and walnuts, vine leaves with rice, herbs and a tahini sauce, almond figs poached in sweet wine with yogurt.
Day 7
- Breakfast in the courtyard.
- Free morning to explore the town, visit some of the sights and museums, or, if the weather permits, have a swim at Vaporia.
- Departure with the afternoon ferry at 4:00 p.m.
Included excursions
- Visit Ano Syros, the traditional medieval settlement perched on a hill, with its cobblestone streets, old orthodox and Catholic churches and spectacular views over the port and across to neighbouring islands (included)
- Market tour (included)
Instructors
Elisa Mavropoulou
A passionate cook and food lover, Elisa has been researching Greek cuisine for more than 20 years, continuously discovering new things. She has worked as a language teacher and translator. She is a keen traveler, who loves to meet people and share with them her passion and knowledge about food. She speaks Greek, English, French and Spanish.
Maria Krina
Maria has worked as chef, restaurant owner, and consultant and kitchen manager for many years and acquired a deep knowledge of the Greek cuisine, its philosophy, techniques and history. A specialist in herbs and wild plants, both for their culinary and medicinal uses, she organizes seminars where she rediscovers old forgotten recipes and adapts them in modern demands for wellbeing. One of her main concerns is contributing to changing people’s attitude regarding food.
Location
Syros is a 3.5-hour ferry ride or a half hour plane ride from Athens. It is the capital of the Cyclades and is well-connected to the other islands in the archipelago. It is a small island which falls into three distinct parts: the main town of Ermoupolis, one of the most beautiful in Greece, the wild north of the island, a paradise for walkers, and the more domesticated south with its villages, tavernas, and beaches.
Historically, it has never had to court tourism, unlike its better-known neighbors, as its particular history meant that its wealth was derived from trade and shipping. The result is a beautiful, friendly, unspoiled island with fantastic beaches, excellent walking and fascinating history, which tourism has yet to discover.
Ermoupolis
The capital is undoubtedly one of the island’s main attractions. It was built in the 19th century by the merchants who settled here and got rich in Syros’ heyday as Greece’s biggest port. At its center is the magnificent Plateia Miaoulis, which sets the tone for the city as a whole. From there, streets of neo-classical houses spread along the waterfront and up the stepped streets behind.
The town boasts three large churches, one of which has an icon painted by the young El Greco. Other places of interest are the Archaeological Museum, the Industrial Museum, the Apollo Theatre, and the old shipyards.
In the summer the town has something of a cosmopolitan feel as it hosts several festivals: the Syros International Film Festival (SIFF), the Akropoditi DanceFest, the Hermoupolis Guitar Festival and the Syros Accordion Festival in July, the International Festival of the Aegean (Opera) and the International Classical Music Festival of Cyclades in August, Animasyros – International Animation Festival in September and Syros Jazz Festival in October as well as numerous concerts and art exhibitions.
The rest of the island
A single road leads to the north of the island, known as Ano Meria, or the ‘Upper Part’. It first passes Ano Syros, the original capital of the island, a traditional white-washed Cycladic settlement perched on a hill just above Ermoupolis. Beyond this is wild country - just steep, terraced hillsides, rocky paths, and deserted beaches. And incredible views across to the neighboring islands. It’s a walker’s paradise in spring and autumn; and in the summer its pristine beaches, only accessible by boat or by foot, are blissfully quiet.
There are two sites of historical interest in Ano Meria: the prehistoric citadel of Kastri, impressively situated on a rocky outcrop in the north-east of the island, and in the extreme north-west is Grammata, where you can see sailors’ inscriptions from as early as the 2nd century BC. Both of these make good destinations for walks.
The south is where most of the island’s villages are, as well as its most accessible beaches, which are all within 30 minutes of Ermoupolis. The villages of Kini, Galissas and Finikas all have well-protected beaches and a choice of tavernas, while Poseidonia, Chroussa, Parakopi and Piskopio boast several magnificent mansions, built in the 19th century as summer retreats by wealthy Ermoupolis families.
Distances
- Athens - 3.5 hours by ferry, 2 hours by fast ferry or 30 minutes by plane
- Main square - 2 minutes' walk
- the Vaporia - 5 minutes' walk
Food
For all the food we prepare, fresh, organic, local, seasonal products will be used. We will prepare traditional regional recipes and local specialties. The breakfasts consist of homemade bread, cakes, jams, free range eggs and dairy products from a local dairy farm. Fruit and vegetables come from local organic farms and wine from small producers from various regions of Greece.
The following meals are included:
- Breakfast
- Lunch
- Dinner
- Snacks
- Drinks
The following drinks are included:
- Water
- Coffee
- Tea
- Alcoholic beverages
The following dietary requirement(s) are served and/or catered for:
- Vegetarian
- Organic
- Regular (typically includes meat and fish)
If you have special dietary requirements it's a good idea to communicate it to the organiser when making a reservation
Things to do (optional)
- Hiking trip and picnic to Grammata, one of the island’s northern pristine beaches where there is no access by road (boat transfer at an additional cost of 35€ p.p.)
- Nature walk and foraging in a typical island landscape that follows a path among thyme and sage bushes all the way to a lovely beach.
- Yoga
- Thai massage
- Greek lessons
- Sight seeing
- Swimming
What's included
- 6 nights accommodation
- 6 breakfasts
- 1 buffet welcome dinner
- 4 cooking classes followed by lunch or dinner
- Wine and cheese tasting
- Market tour
- Visit to Ano Syros, the medieval settlement
- Street food dinner in Ano Syros
- Snacks, coffee, tea
- Taxes
What's not included
- Airfare
- Extra drinks and meals not mentioned above
- Ferry tickets
- All optional activities/meals
How to get there
Recommended Airports
ATH
Athens International Airport (Eleftherios Venizelos Airport)
103 km
Transfer not provided
JSY
Syros Island National Airport
2 km
Transfer included
Arrival by airplane
From Athens airport, there is a daily flight to Syros Island National Airport (JSY). From this airport, a transfer is included in the price. Villa Maria team will pick you up at the airport.
Arrival by ferry
From Piraeus, the main port of Athens, there are two ferries a day-one in the morning, one in the evening all year round, and more ferries, regular and fast ones during the summer months. The port of Ermoupolis is a ten-minute walk from the Villa. Syros is an hour by ferry from Mykonos, which is well served by international flights.
Airport: Syros Island National Airport
Airport transfer included: Syros Island National Airport
No additional charges. You can request this in the next step.
Cancellation Policy
- A reservation requires a deposit of 15% of the total price.
- The deposit is non-refundable, if the booking is cancelled.
- The rest of the payment should be paid 30 days before arrival.
For this organizer you can guarantee your booking through Tripaneer.com. All major credit cards supported.
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