Page 186 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Greek Islands

EXPERIENCE The Dodecanese Dusk at the harbour of Kos’s

yachts moored for the night

leads over a busy boulevard
24 old town, with boats and
to the Castle of the Knights
KOS (Kástro Neratziá), finished in
1514; the gateway is carved
Fernández de Heredia, Grand
ΚΩΣ with the coat of arms of
Master of the Order from 1376
to 1396. The inner keep and
k 27 km (16 miles) W of Kos town g Aktí Koudouriótou,
Kos town @ Kos town n Kos town; 22423 60400 battle ments were built
between 1450 and 1478 from
The second largest island in the Dodecanese, Kos has stone and marble, including
attracted settlers since 3000 BC with its pleasant blocks from the Asklepion
climate and fertile land. This also attracted occupiers (p188). The fortress was an
throughout history, including the Knights of St John, important defence for the
Knights Hospitaller in the
Ottomans and the British, until Kos’s unification with event of any Ottoman attack.
Greece in 1948. Kos is now a popular holiday resort, South of Platía Platánou, the
with some of the best beaches in the Dodecanese. site of the ancient agora is a
series of ruins from every era, Kálymnos Plati Psérimos Pátmos, Léros Bodrum
1 Ancient and modern sit side from the original Hellenistic Kálymnos Psérimos Lámbi Nísyros, Rhodes,
by side here: Nafklírou, or “Bar
city to Byzantine buildings.
Kos Town Street”, runs beside the ancient Built over by the Knights, the Tingkáki Kos Town Sými, Hálki
agora, but is now a shadow of ancient remains were revealed
g @ Aktí Koudourío tou Alykés Wetlands Platáni Psalídi
n Artemisías, corner its former self, with many in the 1933 earthquake. Piraeus Marmári Zipári Asklepeion
Astypálea
of Epiharmoú premises permanently shut. Highlights include the ruins Asfendioú Villages
Hippocrates’s ancient plane of the Temple of Pandemos Ágios Dimítrios Ágios
Kos town is arrayed around the tree, in Platía Platánou, is said Aphrodite and mosaic floors Mastihári Pylí Lagoúdi Ziá Fokas
Bros
water. The harbour bristles to have been planted by him depicting ancient heroes Paleó Pylí Mount Díkeos Thermá
with boats and pavement 2,400 years ago. Despite its Orpheus and Herakles. A 5th­ 846 m (2,776 ft)
cafés heave with tourists dur­ 14 m (46 ft) dia meter, the century Christian basilica was Andimáhia Kos
ing the high season. There are present tree is only about 700 also discovered. Kos International Andimáhia
palm trees, pines and gardens years old, though possibly a The town’s Archaeological Airport Castle
full of jasmine. descendant of the original. Museum has an excellent Kardámena
Still dominated by its Castle The adjacent fountain was built collection of the island’s Limniónas
of the Knights, much of old Kos in 1792 by Gazi Hasan Pasha, Hellenistic and Roman finds, Polémi Helóna Lakitira Beach
Beach
town was destroyed during an to serve the nearby Loggia including a 4th­century­BC Ágios Stéfanos Markos Helóna
Beach
Beach
earthquake in 1933. This Mosque; the water gushed marble statue of Hippocrates Kéfalos Kamári
uncov ered many ancient ruins, into the ancient marble welcoming Asklepios to Kos Astypalaia
which were excavated and sarcophagus that is still there. and 2nd­century statues of
restored by the Italians. A bridge from Platía Platánou Dionysos with Pan and a satyr.
Moní Agíou 0 kilometres 6 N
Ioánni Thymianoú Strongyli
186 Nísyros Gioli 0 miles 6
186-187_EW_Greek_Islands.indd 186 18/12/2018 17:21

EW Must-see template v2 – 12th July 2018
Fonts: Aptifer Sans LT Pro, Posterama Text, Soho Gothic
Pro, Soho Pro, ITC Caslon 224