Klima Village, August 2002

Klima: some impressions from the "lower village"
(photograph from 4th of May 1952)
The original photograph belongs to the archive of Kon. G. Kallianos.

Klima is one of the colorful villages of the island of Skopelos. Today little has changed in spite of all the interfering into its traditional character. It is situated near Glossa, that means on the southwest side of the island that looks towards Skiathos and Evia.

Until the begining of the decade of 1950's the village was divided into two neighborhoods - earlier called "Machalades" - upper Klima and lower Klima. Lower Klima as the inhabitants say is the older one.

It was founded, according to sources from the 18th century, by inhabitants of Glossa who set up something like a small farmer settlement, in the style of Ananias and Kalogeros, which until today exist on the island.

The village church "Ag. Anarguri" was built in 1828. A little chapel may have existed there even earlier.

The lower village has a square at the place "Tsitsiraflos", very impressive - you could see from there Glossa, Loutraki, Pelion, Skiathos - where a big tree stood very imposing, and known to everybody - Tsitsiraflos -. In the dry riverbed that separated the two settlements, until recently some old olive presses could be found, "Kalliagres" as the locals call them. The earthquakes of 1950 were the reason that the village started to lose its luster and beauty.

The inhabitants moved either to the upper village, either to Loutraki and very few only stayed on until 1965 when the other earthquake, that destroyed the upper village, drove them away forever.

The "Kalliagres" are the old olive presses.

There were approximately 20 of those in Skopelos in the beginning of last century. Nowdays only in Klima, one of these preindustrial workshops remains, which stopped operating in March 1967.

The old lower village, in the decade end of forties and beginning of fifties.

Likewise we see the old garment of Klima.

The photograph is from the collection of Kon G. Kallianos .

 

The upper village is, as mentioned, newer than the lower village. It started to be built from 1880 on, maybe a bit earlier. Its inhabitants were occupied with farming, especially vine growing, the production of resin and cattle raising.

The main trait of the people was their enthusiastic character and their hospitality. Likewise we have to stress that the inhabitants of Klima were among the most fun loving spirits of Skopelos. Be it festivals, be it marriages, or just a simple Sunday, there was dancing and celebrating in the village square beneath the oaktree, with many inhabitants of Glossa joining in. Lively traditional festivities were of Agioi Anarguroi (1 July and 1st November), of Panagia Eliotissa, of Agia Paraskevi and so on.

On Good Wednesday 1965 the village was wounded by the earthquakes. Later in 1981 people were moved to the region of Elios, were the new settlement for the inhabitants of Klima had been built, called new Klima - Elios.

Naturally, this settlement situated next to the seashore, is today a tourist place with many conveniences for everyone who wants to enjoy his holidays combining the blue of the Aegean Sea and the green of the pine trees surrounding the village.

The previous chapter is a summary of an extensive study of the priest Kon. N. Kallianos, titled "Promenade on forgotten paths …" which will be published soon.

For my part I would like to express my deepest gratitude to this person; It is an honor for me that he participates in my effort to present our island. Thank you, Papa Kosta.

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