Serifos is located in the western Cyclades, south of Kythnos and northwest of Sifnos. It is part of the Milos regional unit. Its main attractions are some excellent beaches, and an unspoiled whitewashed cubistic traditional Cycladic Hora (main town). Serifos was a significant city-stay in classical Greece and played a part in the Persian and subsequent wars. The Romans used it as a place of political exile. In subsequent history, Serifos has been pretty much a backwater. The island is more barren than even most of the Cyclades, despite the fact that it is well watered by natural springs.