Kos: A Gem of Greece's Dodecanese Islands

[Iberostar Hotels & Resorts]

Traveling to Greece means traveling back in time, to its invasions and great battles, to the great empires of the past.  To do so on its islands is to relive great moments reflected in the history books and in the ruins of the ancient buildings sprinkled around each and every one of them.  But to set foot on Kos is to enter a world that mixes all the great cultures that have inhabited the Mediterranean over thousands of years, and visit landmarks that help form the basis of human knowledge today.  Kos is one of the islands in the western Aegean Sea, very close to Turkey, and forms part of the Dodecanese archipelago.  At only 287.2 kilometers squared, it is one of the most historically interesting land masses in the whole of Europe.

Inhabited since prehistoric times, it received groups coming from Crete and Caria, fought on the side of the Greeks in the Trojan War and was invaded by the Dorians, who established their center of power there: the Hexapolis.  It was invaded by the Persian hordes, who were expelled in the Battle of Salamina, and passed several times into the hands of Sparta until it became part of Macedonia.  After the death of Alexander the Great, it became Egyptian territory, and it even managed to enjoy some independence when it was governed by a local monarchy.  It passed through Byzantine and Venetian hands, before being ruled by the Knights of the Order of St John, and later the Ottomans. In 1934, it would suffer a huge earthquake, before being occupied by the Nazis.  Following a brief spell as a British protectorate, it eventually joined Greece.  With such a history, the number of places to visit is endless.

The capital from which the island takes its name occupies the same site as the old acropolis built in 366 B.C. One of its highlights is an imposing fortress built by the Knights of the Order of Saint John in the fifteenth century, located in the city port area and accessible via an impressive bridge.  The historical center is full of the remnants of ancient eras: a shrine dedicated to Aphrodite, another dedicated to Heracles, the old Agora, some Roman baths and, from the same epoch, a gymnasium, a house and the Odeon concert building.  Visitors can also enjoy a great number of Paleo-Christian and Byzantine churches.  In Kos you can also sit in the shade of what is reportedly the oldest tree in Europe, a banana tree under which Hippocrates, father of modern medicine, gave classes to his students.

On the outskirts of the capital is the magnificent Asklepion, where a large theater festival is held every year, as well as photography and art exhibitions relating to medicine.  Nor should the thermal springs at Agios Fokás and Psiladi be missed, where water comes out of the ground at 100 degrees Celsius and cools as it flows over the rocks.

The Montte Dikeio region, the highest point on the island, is dotted with small settlements where the most traditional Kos lifestyle can be enjoyed.  One that stands out is Lagoudi, with churches such as the Agios Ioannis Theologos, the Prophet Elijah, Asfendiou, Pyli and Asomatos. They are all surrounded by lush nature where intrepid travelers can enjoy all kinds of adventures, losing themselves in the innumerable paths.

In the center of the island is the village of Antimajia, where there are windmills and the coat of arms of the Grand Master of the Order of Saint John, Pierre d’Abusson.  Also worthy of a visit is the fishing village of Mastichari, where visitors can sample the best fresh fish on the island in any of its bars; and Kardamena, a tourist complex located alongside the beach.

To the south, Kefalos stands out for its magnificent beach of crystal clear waters and little white houses lining narrow streets.  Very nearby are the Saint Nicholas monastery and the Agios Stephanos tourist center, where there are beaches in abundance.  Here, bathers will find both pebbles and sand and can swim close to two fifth-century Christian churches towards a small island where there are the ruins of a castle.

Kos is definitively one of those special places where it is impossible not to find something that makes your journey worthwhile.

 

“IBEROSTAR Hotels & Resorts has 3 hotels on the island of Kos. These hotel complexes, the IBEROSTAR Kipriotis Panorama & Suites, the IBEROSTAR Odysseus and the IBEROSTAR Panorama Family, are 4 and 5-star establishments which offer an All Inclusive package to ensure everything is taken care of during your vacation. These hotels offer luxurious and comfortable suites to suit all needs.”