Editing Syros (section)

====Greek War of Independence and 19th century====
{{Further|Greek War of Independence}}
[[File:Syra A Greek Island - Carne John - 1836.jpg|thumb|Syros in 1836]]

Due to its crucial geographical position, Syros became known as a maritime way-point. Moreover, the special social, religious and institutional conditions prevailing on the island, led Syriots to neutrality at the beginning of the [[Greek War of Independence|Greek Revolution in 1821]]. As a result, Syros became a secure shelter during the Revolution, attracting many Greek refugees from [[Asia Minor]], [[Chios]], [[Spetses]], [[Psara]], [[Aivali]], [[İzmir|Smyrna]], [[Kydonia]], [[Kassos]] and other places.
These refugees built Ermoupoli.
[[File:Syros emoupolis rathaus 240707.jpg|thumb|left|Ermoupolis City Hall, designed by [[Ernst Ziller]], with the statue of [[Andreas Miaoulis]] at [[Miaoulis Square]] (work of [[Georgios Bonanos]]).]]

In 1827 Syros became part of the newly founded [[First Hellenic Republic]] and later (1834) the Greek Kingdom. The island returned to peace and tranquility, Syros became known as a cross-road in the [[Aegean Sea|Aegean]] and as an international commercial center linking [[Western Europe]] and the Mediterranean sea to the East. The construction of the first buildings began in 1822, and in 1824 the first Orthodox Church Metamorphosis and the largest Greek [[sanatorium]] was constructed.

[[File:Ceiling inside the Apollon Theater.JPG|thumb|[[Theater Apollon, Syros|Apollo Theatre]] ceiling]]
[[File:Syros1904.jpg|thumb|Postcard of Syros, 1904.]]
[[File:Syros El. Venizelou Ermoupoli.jpg|thumb|Venizelou street in Ermoupolis]]

Because of the Venetian domination from the [[Middle Ages]] onwards, the islanders had a [[Roman Catholic]] majority. However, due to immigration from other islands, Catholics now constitute some 47% of the population. The majority of the population are [[Greek Orthodox]]. Intermarriage between Churches is very common in Syros.  There is also a single parish of the Byzantine Greek Catholic Church.  

During 1831 Syros played a prominent role in the elaboration of the new [[Constitution of Greece|Greek Constitution]]. Under [[Ioannis Kapodistrias]] (Giovanni Capo D'Istria), the first Governor of the new state, the population of Ermoupolis had reached 13,805 residents and the city had evolved into a seat of government.

It had a Commercial Court of Law, a post office (one of the first in Greece), insurance brokerages, the first public school, a branch of the [[National Bank of Greece]], art gallery, museum, library, a social club for the [[High society (group)|elite society]] etc. However, in 1854 [[cholera]] and a series of other epidemics plunged Syros into mourning. A number of [[Charitable organization|charitable]] institutions for public health and social services were established during this period: orphanages, poorhouses and a mental hospital.

Newcomers, mainly [[sailor|mariner]]s and tradesmen, gave the island a new dynamic, which along with its demographic and economic development, turned it into an administrative and cultural centre. Newcomers flocked to the island and founded the town of Ermoupoli, which rapidly became the leading port of Greece.

Between 1822 and 1865, Ermoupoli was rebuilt in a [[Neoclassicism|Neoclassical]] style, merging [[Greek Classicism]] with elements of the [[Renaissance]]. Many landmarks such as the City Hall (designed by the German architect [[Ernst Ziller]]), the [[Theater Apollon, Syros|Apollo Theatre]] by the Italian architect [[Pietro Campo]] (a miniature version of the [[La Scala]] in [[Milan]]), the main Library, the General Hospital of Syros (Vardakeio-Proio), Miaoulis square and other buildings were built during that period of time. Passing through on 6 April 1864, the effect of all the sugary marble is such that the English artist [[Edward Lear]], refers to the town fondly in his diary as "the old sparkly pile".<ref>Edward Lear diaries, 1858-1888. MS Eng 797.3 (7), page seq. 57. Houghton Library, Harvard University, Cambridge, Mass.</ref>

The European architects (mainly [[Germans]] and [[Italians]]) and also Greeks who participated in the design and planning of Ermoupolis respected the classical and ancient Greek architecture and harmonized it with the [[romanticism]] of the West. [[Ermoupoli]] has a high density of neoclassical architecture. The prosperity of Syros was connected with the development of social and cultural life. The evolutionary cycle was completed with the creation of the first industrial units during the decade of 1860–70.

Most public buildings, churches, schools, stadiums and many mansions were built in the same elegant and neoclassical style, making Ermoupoli at the time a very modern city with a unique character. As a result, Syros changed almost overnight from a rather quiet island into a vigorous centre of crafts, industry and production.<ref>See, e.g., [[James Theodore Bent|Theodore Bent]], ‘The Capital of the Cyclades’. ''Macmillan’s Magazine'', Vol. 50, 1884 (May/Oct), pp. 426-435.</ref> Also, due to its large port of [[Ermoupoli]], it turned into a major centre for ship building and refitting. [[Neorion]] was the first [[shipyard]] of Greece. To this very day, it remains a place where many ships are serviced and refitted.

Since 1830 the commerce of fabrics, silk, ship building, leather and iron developed on Syros and at the same time a powerful banking system was created. The tremendous growth and development of Ermoupolis continued and until 1860 Syros was the most important commercial harbour in Greece. Together with commerce and ship building, construction and public works were also developed. The [[Greek Steamship Company]] was founded in 1856.

A period of decline then followed, as sailing gave way to steam, the importance of the geographical situation of the island was reduced and [[Piraeus]] harbour finally took the predominant position in Greece - with the competition of [[Patras]] also reducing Syros' commercial importance.