DODECANESE ISLANDS

Strung along the coast of western Turkey like jewels upon an aquamarine sea, the Dodecanese archipelago is closer to Asia Minor than mainland Greece. Because of their strategic and vulnerable position, they have encountered a greater list of invasions and occupations than the rest of Greece. The name Dodecanese (‘Dodecka’ means 12 in Greek) derives from the time of the Ottoman Empire when 12 of the 18 islands were granted special privileges for having willingly submitted to the new Ottoman overlords. With Rhodes being the largest island of the Dodecanese, Kos, and Patmos fulfill a more important role historically.

KALYMNOS
Kalymnos, only 2,5km South of Leros, is a mountainous, arid island with fertile valleys. The island is renowned as the ‘sponge-fishing island’. With the beginning of tourism, rock climbing became very popular in Kalymnos and today the island offers more than 3000 climbing routes and every year gains more admiration with the Kalymnos Climbing Festival. East of Plateia Kyprou, is the Archaeological Museum with objects from the Neolithic and Bronze Ages. For more interest in the history of the island, you can also visit the Nautical and Folklore Museum. Kalymnos has beautiful beaches with crystal clear water and is the perfect place to go diving! The lovely, tranquil, and traffic-free islet of Telendos is just 10 minutes from Kalymnos and is just wonderful.

KOS
Kos is the third-largest island of the Dodecanese and one of its most fertile and well-watered. It lies only 5km from the Turkish Peninsula of Bodrum. The father of medicine, Hippocrates was born and lived on the island and made Kos famous throughout the Greek world, you can visit the Three of Hippocrates. Asclepeion is the greatest archaeological site on the island and together with the Ancient Agora worth the visit. Kos Town is the island’s capital and main port. It’s modern, picturesque, and lush, with an abundance of palms, pines, oleander, and hibiscus. The Castle of the Knights dominates the port, and Hellenistic and Roman ruins are strewn everywhere. If you dream of long sandy beaches then the island of Kos is perfect for you!

PATMOS
Patmos is a seductively pleasant holiday destination. It appeals in equal doses to the culturally inclined, the religiously motivated, gastronomes and sun-worshippers, shoppers, yachties, bookaholics, and travelers simply seeking to unwind. Patmos is a place of pilgrimage for both Orthodox and West Christians, for it was here that Saint John wrote his divinely inspired revelation (the Apocalypse). The immense Monastery of Saint John the Theologian crowns the island of Patmos and a little way along you can also visit the Monastery of the Apocalypse, built around the cave of St. John. Even though Chora is the capital of the island Skala is where the port is located and has a more vibrant center.

RHODES
Rhodes is the largest island in the Dodecanese. The landscapes vary from arid and rocky around the coast to lush and forested. The World Heritage-listed Old Town of Rhodes stands as the largest inhabited medieval town in Europe, and its mighty fortifications are the finest surviving example of the defensive architecture of the time. The whole town is a mesh of Byzantine, Turkish and Latin architecture with quiet twisting alleyways punctuated by lively squares. Speaking of… you can visit Marmaris/Turkiye from Rhodes by ferry and crossing takes only 2,5 hours. From castles to temples, churches to monasteries, and from spas to natural springs, Rhodes offers a total package. Visit the bay of Anthony Quinn it’s breathtaking and just extraordinary.

SYMI
Symi lies within the geographical embrace of Turkiye, 10km from the Turkish peninsula of Datça. It has a long tradition of both sponge diving and shipbuilding. The island has a scenic rocky interior with pine and cypress woods and a coastline with precipitous cliffs and numerous small bays with pebbled beaches. Gialos, Symi’s port town is a Greek treasure. Neoclassical mansions in a harmonious medley of colors are heaped up the steep hills flanking its U-shaped harbor. Horio meaning above is crowned by the Kastro (castle). There are some great hiking paths on the island, to explore more than the narrow, labyrinthine streets and alleys. Symi is not famous for its sandy beaches but offers great bays with a few sunbeds and umbrellas. Find the famed windmills of Patmos and enjoy the lovely skyline.