Symi’s Neoclassical Mansions
The mansions on Symi have either 2 or 3 floors and are known for their tiled roofs, small balconies, and wooden doors. Homes on Symi typically have a small courtyard with pebbles that form geometric patterns. Once you are inside the house, you will find the Sala, which is a large reception hall and the most important room of the mansion. It’s hard to miss the beautiful mansions of Symi that were built in the 19th century. They were inspired by the commercial journeys of locals from Symi at the time. For example, many were influenced by the architecture of Smyrna, which before the catastrophe in 1922 featured many Neoclassical buildings. Symians wanted the island of Symi to look like Smyrna.
To build their mansions, Symi’s residents brought roof tiles from Marseilles and wood from Italy. Local building materials included stone and mortar. If it was an expensive building, the mortar was made with soil from Santorini. The color scheme was often ocher, terracotta, azure, and white.
Symi’s History
Symi was once part of the Roman Empire and subsequently the Byzantine Empire. The Knights of St. John conquered the island in 1373. The Ottoman Empire took over in 1522 but left the island with many of its privileges. Symi was always in an important location because it was a stopping point for traders until steam-powered shipping was invented in the 1800s. During the Greek War for Independence in the 1820s, Symi was not included in the new Greek state. So, Symi stayed under Ottoman rule. In 1912, the Italians commanded the island for 30 years. At that time, locals from Symi were not happy with their Italian leaders and started to leave the island. At its height, Symi’s population at the end of the 19th century reached 22,500. Today, it has declined to 2500. About 120 non-Greek residents live in Symi, with the largest portion (50) being British.
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