| |
PATMOS
"The Jerusalem
of the Aegean", where St. John wrote the Revelation of Apocalypse.
The emperor Alexios Komninos built a holy monastery in St. John’s
honor, which is the landmark of the island. The majestic fortress-monastery
of St. John the Divine, visable from all points at sea, crowns the
hills above the port and offers great views over the Aegean and to
Asia Minor. It is surrounded by dazzling white, cube like houses,
which spill down its flanks. Patmos is one of the most remarkable
medieval sites in all Greece and not to be missed by the traveller
in the Dodecanese.
Sights: Monasteries with Byzantine icons, the monasteries
of Saint John the Theologian and of the Apocalypse built around the
cave where John had his vision of the end of times, 9th century embroideries,
rare old books.
LIPSI & AGATHONISI
A group of small islands with beautiful
sandy beaches and translucent waters and houses painted in various
colors. The hamlet on the natural harbor is composed of spotless white
washed houses, tavernas, ouzeri and coffee houses. It is known for
its local cheese and wine.
LEROS
Rolling green hills, deep coves and
appealing beaches between small fertile valleys with beautiful white
housed villages.
Sights: Remains of Byzantine castle over looks the
harbor. Here indigenous tropical fruit, roasted octopus can be found
on Leros.
KALYMNOS
Mountainous, with two fertile valleys, it is famous
as the sponge diver’s island. Blessed with natural attractions such
as caves, lovely beaches, unspoiled scenery, it keeps up with tradition.
Multicolored houses give the island extra beauty. Sights: Castles,
monasteries, Byzantine museuem, caves with prehistoric artifacts,
churches, sponge museum, thermal springs and therapeutic bathing hotels.
Shopping: sponges.
Delicacies: Baklava, Galaktoboureko, syrupy pastries.
KOS
Hippocrates' (father of modern medicine) birthplace, Kos blends ancient
atmosphere with modern life and is a wealthy island with ideal sandy
beaches and palm lined streets.
Sights: Archaeological finds,
Crusader and Byzantine castles, Roman and Mycenaean remains, excavated
thermal baths, museums.
Shopping: Ceramics, antiquity effigies. It is famous for its "Kos
Lettuce".
ASTYPALEA
A pine-clad mountainous
island, with an indented coastline concealing numerous delightful
coves, it resembles two islands joined by a ribbon of land only 105
m. wide. The main village is built up the side of a main hill and
is presided over by the massive, austere remains of a Venetian castle.
A row of windmills and closely packed white cube houses follow the
contours of the hill in an unbroken band down to the sea.
Sights:
Venetian castle, churches, windmills. The island is very fertile and
full of citrus groves and cornfields.
|
|
Asklepion, Kos
Kos
Shipwreck bay, Zakynthos
Images courtesy of the GNTO |
