It's no surprise that Rhodes is one of the most visited Greek islands. Tourists are attracted not only by the eastern coast with sandy beaches, but also a well-preserved medieval city. Rhodes is divided into two unequal parts: compact Old city And new town. In the north-eastern part of the old city rises Palace of the Grand Masters(Mon 12.30-19.00, Tue-Sun 8.30-18.00, 6 euros). The palace is located museum: the exhibition on the first floor tells about medieval Rhodes, on the second - about ancient Rhodes. Knight Street leads from the palace to the east. Knights of the Order of St. John settled here for centuries, and below the knight's hospital is located Archaeological Museum(Tue-Sun 8.30-15.00/19.00, 3 euros). Nearby is Byzantine Museum(same opening hours, 2 euros) in the knight's chapel, where icons and frescoes are kept. To the south of the palace rises mosque Sulaymaniyah.

There is a lot of housing in the old town. Good hotels Apollo Rooms , Omirou 28С (tel. 22410 32 003) , Pension Pink Elephant , Timahidhas, Irodhotou (tel. 22410 22469), and a modernized hotel with amenities Hotel Spot , Perikleous 21 (tel. 22410 34737). There is a hostel on Ha Eryiou 12 near Aiyu Fanouriou (tel. 22410 30491). It's more difficult to eat cheaply here: it's worth going to the alley south of Sokratous. On the corner of Pythagora and Omirou Anthony's offers souvlaki - kebabs. Good places Then Steno , Ayi’on Anaryfron 29, 400 m southwest of the gate of Ayiu Athanasiou, or Niohori , Ioanni Kazouli 29, near the Franciscan monastery. Mail, most banks (there are three in the old town), travel agency Eot (Mon-Fri 8.00-14.30; tel. 22410 23255) and the municipal travel agency (June-Sept., Mon-Sat 8.00-20.00, Sun 8.00-15.00) are located in the New Market area, next to which there are two bus stops, from where buses depart to different parts of the island. Internet cafe Rock Style is located at Dhimokratias 7, southwest of the old town.

You can stop at Cape Tsambika(26 km south), south of the cape there is an excellent beach. It is best to spend the night in Kharaki- a tiny bay with lots of housing and taverns next to the castle ruins. The second attraction of Rhodes, Lindos located 12 km south of Haraka. Inquiries can be made at Pallas Travel (tel. 22440 31494). On the hill above the city in the knight's castle (in summer Mon 12.30-19.00, Tue-Sun 8.00-19.00, 6 euros) rise the Doric Temple of Athena and standing in the Hellenistic era. The beaches of Lindos are crowded, it is better to go to the growing resort of Enadi. In the countryside Church of Asclepius the best frescoes of the late Byzantine era in Rhodes.

Kos

Kos is the largest and most popular island of the Dodecanese after Rhodes. Harbor protects fortress of the Knights of the Order of St. John, there are many Italian public buildings on the streets, minarets built on Greco-Roman ruins. During the peak season, it is difficult to find a place to sleep - only in the western tip of the island. The modern city of Kos was destroyed by an earthquake in 1933. Good travel agency(July and August, daily 8.00-21.00; spring and autumn, Mon-Fri 9.00-20.00, Sat 8.00-15.00, winter Mon-Fri 8.00-15.00; tel. 22420 24460) located 500 m south of the pier on the coastal road: there are maps and timetables here sea ​​vessels. Intercity buses arrive at a stop 500 m west of the travel agency.

Cheap housing at the clean guesthouse Alexis, Irodhotou 9 (tel. 22420 25594, closed Dec.-Feb.), or at the hotel Hotel Afendoulis , 600m south-east, Evripilou 1 (tel. 22420 25321; closed Dec-March). The government campsite (tel. 22420 23275) is a half-hour walk along the beach south-east of the town and has frequent bus services. Restaurants in the port should be avoided, it is better to visit Ambavris , 1.5 km from the sea in a village, or Noufara, northwest of the port, Kanari 67.

In addition to the castle (Tue-Sun 8.30-15.00, 3 euros) main attractions town - Greco-Roman mosaics and statues that are exhibited in Archaeological Museum(Tue-Sun 8.00-14.30, 3 euros). Near the castle there is a so-called tree of hippocrates(sycamore), which is considered one of the oldest in Europe. Asklepion is also associated with the name of Hippocrates - Temple of Aesculapius, or Asclepius (Tue-Sun 8.00-15.00/19.00, 3 euros). The road goes past the village Platani, where Turks offer excellent food in summer taverns Arar and Sheriff .

On beaches you can get there by bus. Easy to get to the beach in Tingaki, 12 km west of Kos. Nice beach in Mastichari, 30 km from Kos. To the west buses go up to the hill Kefalos, from where the whole of Kos opens. In Agios Stefanos there is an ancient basilica (5th century) with a mosaic floor, at the foot of Kefalos there is resort Kamari. Here begin the beaches that go east past Agios Stefanos: Paradise is the most equipped, but Magic (Polemi) and Langada are quieter and more picturesque.

Patmos

St. John the Evangelist wrote the Apocalypse on Patmos. In memory of this, in 1088, a monastery. Monks no longer rule Patmos, as they did for six centuries, but the influence of the monastery is still noticeable. The exception is main city and port Rock, where there are many tourists from Kos and Rhodes who came here for one day, and cruise ship passengers. They are met by brokers offering housing, which is located in the interior of the island, which is not so bad, since the embankment here is noisy. Places in inexpensive hotels must be booked in advance, e.g. Australis , Netia district (tel. 22470 31576). Good seafood in uzeri Then Hiliomodhi . Nestled in the bay is Meloi Beach, with good camping and an excellent tavern. Stefanos . Less crowded is Agriolivadi Beach in the bay to the north. Monastery of St. John(daily 8.00-13.00, Tue, Thu and Sun also from 16.00-18.00) nestled behind the massive walls of the city Hora on the top of the mountain.

Buses go here, but you can walk there. Located halfway Monastery of the Apocalypse, built near the cave where St. John heard the voice of God from a cleft in the rock. The main monastery houses treasures from the Middle Ages (5 euros to the museum). Hora - beautiful town, where there are more than forty-three churches and monasteries and a dozen mansions of the 17th-18th centuries. If you want to stay here, it is better to make inquiries at the tavern Vangelis. From Chora the road leads to the resort of Griku on the isthmus Stavros, from where it is a half hour walk to the excellent beach with one tavern in Psili Ammos. More good beaches in the north of the island - especially in Livadi Eranu, with tamarisk thickets and a good tavern, and Lambi, with volcanic pebbles and a good Leonidas tavern.

Average prices for Kos Patmos route

Prices shown reflect the average one-way crossing price paid by our customers. The most popular booking on the Kos Patmos route is a car and 2 passengers.

Guide to Kos

Kos is a Greek island located in the Dodecanese group of islands. Kos is located 4 km off the coast of Bodrum in Turkey and is approximately 40 km long and 8 km wide. In addition to the main town and port, also called Kos, the main villages of Kos are Kardamena, Kefalos, Thingaki, Antimahia, Mastichari, Marmari and Pouli. The smaller ones are Zia, Zipari, Platani, Lagoudi and Asfendiou. Kos is very popular place relaxation, and has a bustling center with many restaurants, shops, bars and clubs. Visitors will be able to find almost everything, from fur to ceramics, from leather goods to jewelry and from shoes and clothing to books, souvenirs and beach items. The most touristy seaside villages also offer a variety of small shops, selling mainly handicrafts such as basketry, pottery and embroidery, as well as traditional local products such as thyme honey, sweets, herbs, spices and wines.

There are daily flights between Kos and Piraeus, as well as flights between Kos and the rest of the Dodecanese, the islands of the north-eastern Aegean and Turkey. A regular ferry trip can take up to 13 hours, depending on stopovers, and a high-speed boat trip can take between 5 and 8 hours.

Guide to Patmos

The Greek island of Patmos is part of the Dodecanese group of islands and is located in the Aegean Sea, near west coast Turkey. As soon as you arrive on the island of Patmos and take your first step off the ferry, it immediately becomes apparent that this island truly has something very special for visitors. The lively port city on the island of Patmos is Skala, and a number of the island's most popular attractions are located in or around the city. North of the Rock, Meloy Beach is completely shaded by trees and is very beautiful. The Monastery of St. John, in the village of Chora, is also of interest to many visitors, along with countless white houses. Another popular spot on the island is the Cave of the Apocalypse, which is believed to have been the sacred cave where St. Ioannis heard the voice of God and wrote the Apocalypse. In the cave, visitors can admire the cross engraved by St. John, as well as three small cracks in the rock through which the voice of God came, symbolizing the Holy Trinity.

The island of Patmos is small and cozy. It will take half an hour by car to travel from one end to the other. Patmos is perhaps the most religious center of Hellas. They even came up with a very poetic metaphor for him - “Jerusalem of the Aegean Sea.” The main attraction, for which most tourists come here, is the cave where the great work “Apocalypse” (the same one from the Bible) was written down. We will tell you more about the cave below.

If you have long dreamed of not just lying on the sand by the sea, enjoying a cocktail, but finding a hidden corner, then Patmos is ideal for you. Here you will find a secluded holiday away from the noise of big cities and the futile daily bustle.

Patmos is washed Aegean Sea. All coastal towns and villages are very cozy and make you want to stay longer. Quiet provincial life takes place on their narrow streets. In total, just over three thousand people live here.

The island consists of three parts, which are connected to each other by thin isthmuses a couple of kilometers wide. Patmos belongs to the Dodecanese group of islands. Here you will not find luxurious vegetation - the island consists of rocks and there is practically no forest on it - but here you can find something more: peace and tranquility.

How to get there?

Patmos, Greece, is a pretty secluded island. It takes effort to get there. That's probably why beach holiday It is not as developed there as on the popular Greek islands. Patmos does not have its own airport, so there is only one way left - by water. You can fly to Athens, and from there take a ferry to Patmos. Here you need to take into account that there may not be enough seats on the ferry, so it is better to book your ticket in advance.


Patmos can also be reached from neighboring islands. For example, from the island of Kos. Catamarans depart from there daily and the journey will take a couple of hours. Transport also runs from the island of Samos. There is a Flying Dolphin boat there, which will take you to your destination. The journey will take about an hour.

In addition, Patmos can be reached from the island of Rhodes. True, Rhodes is further away. Nakatamaran will have to swim for four hours. It runs every day except Monday. However, if you get seasick, such a long trip can unsettle you. But if you set out to visit this pearl of Christianity, the trials of the road will not lead you astray!

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What to see on the island?

Desert, sparsely inhabited, covered with thorn bushes, inaccessible, in places waterless and dry. This is how most new arrivals see the island. However, since 2006, Patmos (Greece) has been recognized by UNESCO as a world heritage site. It is known for the fact that John the Evangelist served his exile here. This is the only apostle who died a natural death, and it was he who wrote his best creation on Patmos - “Apocalypse”, or “Revelation”.

Cave of Revelation


Entrance to the Cave of Revelation

This is a real treasure of the island. Here, according to legend, the Apostle John the Theologian wrote the book “Apocalypse” (the name of the last book of the New Testament). If anyone doesn’t know, it’s about what awaits people at the end of the world. The cave is located between Skala harbor and the city of Patmos. It is also called the Sacred Grotto. In general, it doesn’t look much like a cave, more like a church in the rock. Entrance - 2 euros.


According to legend, Saint John found his refuge here when he was expelled by order of the Roman Emperor Domitian. A monk meets tourists in the cave and tells everyone stories from the Apocalypse and fragments from the life of the Theologian. You can see the stones on which, according to legend, the saint slept (he laid his head on them as if on a pillow). The places here are beautiful, and some people come up with an amazing thought: how could such a dark story be written in such a wonderful place.


An opportunity to plunge into the early Middle Ages. The 11th century monastery stands higher in the mountains than the cave and resembles a fortress. Many who traveled to Patmos have photos of this structure. The views here are simply breathtaking! Externally, it is a typical Greek monastery, which can be seen from any part of the island. The monastery is located high above Chora, the capital of the island. People are attracted by its magical frescoes, fortified high thick walls, towers and ramparts.


There is a nice well here where you can collect holy water. Interesting museum. Gloomy monks who nevertheless sell delicious wine of their own production. Tourists note that nature and the air itself seem to give peace here. In general, a real shrine. Getting to the monastery is not difficult: you can even walk from the capital. The journey will take about forty minutes, but be prepared that the road is uphill. There is also a bus to your destination.


The capital of the island of Patmos. Graying usually occurs around large enterprises. Here it all began with the construction of the above-mentioned majestic monastery of St. John the Evangelist. The city flourished in the 16th and 17th centuries, and most of the picturesque mansions in the city center date back to this time.

The snow-white buildings have a completely flat roof. This is not a coincidence or the invention of a mad architect: this was done to save rainwater. There are narrow alleys and white chapels around. Antique doors, chic ceramic vases with plants, a real pleasure just to walk along the streets.

The view at the top is stunning. It gives the impression of a fairy-tale toy town. There are many shops and taverns in Chora, and the price tags, unlike the popular islands of Greece or the mainland, are quite low.

Windmills


I immediately remember Don Quixote, these are exactly the kind of mills you imagine when you read a book: round, cozy, in general, real. It is surprising that on Patmos the windmills are gray, although on the other islands of Greece they are all white stone. Among the guests of Patmos, they are considered a real highlight, thanks to them the island received a prestigious tourism award.

The two mills are very ancient, more than five hundred years old. The third was built much later. Today it is a whole wind complex-museum, where many people come.

The mills are located not far from the Monastery of St. John the Theologian, so if you are planning to get to the monastery from Chora on foot, be sure to stop by here too. One of the mills is open, tourists are allowed up, and a truly stunning view opens up from inside.

Beaches of the island

The island of Patmos, Greece, is much more famous for its Christian sites than its beaches. But the pleasant climate and gentle sea allow you to splash around on the shore almost until October. Patmos has three main beaches.

Psili Amos


Located 10 km from Chora. This is one of best beaches Patmos. He hides in the bay from the wind. Amazes with its beauty natural landscape. Lovely warm and pure water, excellent entry into the water, fine sand. You can also sit on your own towels, so as not to rent sun loungers. It's a pleasure to lie on the sand, under the shade of trees.

There is also a small cafe, not pretentious, an ordinary coastal eatery. Tables, wooden chairs, people sitting straight in their swimsuits.

Agios Theologos


It is also sheltered from the winds by a bay. The beach is sandy, the sea is clear, the entry into the water is wonderful. Simply an ideal place for children, even very tiny ones. There are taverns where you can have a meal for little money local cuisine and fresh seafood.

There are boats from the port to Agios Theologos, but you can also get there by car or motorcycle. Peace and quiet. A sunbed costs 4 euros.

One of the nuances is that the sun hides behind the mountains early, so if you want to sunbathe, it’s better to come in the morning.

Agrio Livadi


The beach, hidden from the main tourist routes of Patmos, is a very nice and secluded place. The sea is beautiful and clean. There is a nice Greek tavern at the end of the beach. There is no gourmet cuisine there, but you can have lunch or order a cocktail there. Agrio Livadi is not yet popular with tourists; it is rather a quiet meeting place for locals, where they come to relax at the end of the day.

The cost of renting a sun lounger for the day is 5 euros.

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A short summary


You will certainly be captivated by the endless capes with amazing views and majestic grottoes. Unlike its green neighbor Rhodes, Patmos looks deserted. If there are trees here, they are mostly coniferous. But! It's easy to breathe here. There is no oversupply of cars. There are untouched expanses of wilderness all around, the air is permeated with the aroma of coniferous trees.

The beach infrastructure is tight, but the beaches are all sandy. The island of Patmos in Greece (photos confirm this) is imbued with a religious spirit, white stone churches and bell towers are at every turn. Instead of drunken, depraved tourists, there are mostly pilgrims here who came here on purpose.

To save money, you can rent an ATV or motorcycle. Taxi is prohibitively expensive. For the most athletic, we recommend taking a walk on your own, because all the most interesting things can be seen in the mountains. Local population Patmos is special: people are polite, listen carefully and don’t try to sell anything.


Windy weather is typical for the dark time of day. Better time for visiting - from July to September, the air temperature during the day is comfortable, about 25 degrees. The views are stunning, nature beckons. It’s hard to believe that they were exiled here, that a living apostle walked here, and that the terrifying book of Revelation was written on Patmos in Greece. After all, the Island of Patmos breathes grace and charges with optimism for the whole year ahead.

Attractions and beaches Greek island Patmos is marked on the map in Russian.

Video from the island. Enjoy watching!

Related posts:

Travel around

Dodecanese archipelago

"Mysteries of the Knights' Islands"

(Rhodes – Patmos – Kos –

Nisyros - Symi - Rhodes)

May 2012

17/05 - Day 1: Arrival in Rhodes (Diagoros airport).
We load onto the bus and move to a place called Faliraki (20 km from the airport). The town is located on the eastern shore of the island, which means we will have water at our disposal every day Mediterranean Sea(the western coast is washed by the Aegean). The choice is not accidental - even in windy weather, Faliraki Bay is calm and quiet. While on the opposite side of the island it is “storming” continuously. We are settling in. We look around. Let's have dinner. Let's rest.
18/05 - Day 2: The capital of the island is the city of Rhodes.
We leave for Rhodes - the capital of the entire Dodecanese archipelago (15 km).

We climb Mount Smith (not yet on foot - by bus), on its top in the distant past the Acropolis of Rhodes was located. Only from here can you take in the view of the territory that the city occupied in ancient times. Here we have to figure out: why were acropolises needed at all? what's behind famous aphorism Aesop: “Here is Rhodes, here and jump”? and why did Cicero, Caesar, Cleopatra, and Tiberius like to come here regularly?

From here we will begin our search for the location of one of the 7 wonders of the world - giant statue patron of the island - the sun god Helios (better known as Colossus)…

Today, the temples of Zeus, Artemis and Apollo are partially preserved on the Acropolis.

The Theatre, Stadium and Propylaea (central staircase) are almost in perfect order.

We move to the northernmost tip of the island (3 km), to the confluence of two seas - the Aegean and Mediterranean. Moreover, amazingly, this border is visible to the naked eye! The Rhodes Aquarium is also located here. Most of its inhabitants were caught from depths of the sea, but the main pride is still considered to be a small freshwater fish, not so much because it is endemic (that is, not found anywhere else), but rather for the reason that with its existence it confirms the reality of one ancient myth.
On foot (it’s very close) we go to the ancient port of Mandraki. Maybe this is where the Colossus stood? One foot is on the right bank and the other is on the left. The hypothesis is beautiful... but how true is it? By the way, why are there deer on the columns at the entrance to the harbor today?
For a while, we say goodbye to antiquity and are transported to the Middle Ages... Right here, in the port, to the left of the deer, is the restored main church of the island - St. John (200 years ago, the Turks accidentally blew it up). In the Middle Ages, the long-time patron of the island, Helios, was forced to give up his place for more than 200 years to John the Baptist, because the first knightly state in the history of mankind was founded on Rhodes.
Again, a short drive - and we are at the walls of another Rhodes miracle... A miracle of fortification architecture - the castle-fortress of the Knights of the Order of St. John. The walls, erected more than 700 years ago, however, like all other buildings of the Old City, have been preserved, unlike the ancient heritage, literally in their original form. But the most interesting thing is that today only the Palace of the Grand Masters and the Hospital have been turned into a museum, and everything else: the street of horsemen - Hippoton, the ancient shopping area of ​​Chora, towers, walls, ancient chapels... etc. are still functioning - in medieval city people still live and work.

We move around Old Rhodes on foot. Before returning to the hotel, we will have the opportunity to wander through the labyrinths of ancient streets on our own (about an hour). Here you can have a snack or browse the souvenir shops.
19/05 – Day 3: Rhodes. Lindos (East Coast) – drive 50 km.
In the morning we drive along the eastern coast to the south of the island. Our goal is Lindos - a rock city floating above the sea. It is considered to be the second most historically significant ancient monument in Greece (after the Acropolis of Athens). But we'll make a couple of stops along the way...
The first is at the foot of the 700-meter high Tsambika Mountain. For a long time this place has been considered sacred. Here, back in the Byzantine era, the Church of the Annunciation of the Mother of God was built as a “shelter” for the miraculous icon. In time immemorial, it was discovered by a shepherd on the top of a mountain. Not only from all over Greece, but from all over the world, childless couples come here and ask the icon for help - to send them a child. I think that even those who do not believe in such miracles cannot help but be impressed by the number of photographs of newborn babies and gifts from those whose requests the icon favorably responded to.
The second stop (optional) is at the ceramic factory. It’s not even necessary to buy anything here. But, probably, it would be a pity to miss the opportunity - to drive past and not see how jugs, amphorae and plates were made (and are still made to this day) from clay on a potter's wheel.
After 20 minutes we leave the bus on the highway and on our own we climb to the Acropolis of Lindos, to the Temple of Athena. You can do it on your own, or you can ride it on a donkey (though it takes a little longer and... although it’s quite inexpensive, it’s still not free). Along the way, it’s worth paying attention to the houses of the captains (in the past, Lindos was a powerful maritime power, with a huge number of colonies) ... - and to such a unique genre of applied art as khokhlaki (you won’t find anything like this anywhere else in the world except the Dodecanese islands) .

The Knights of St. John also left their mark on Lindos - the acropolis is surrounded by powerful fortress walls, behind which, in strange proximity, the temple of the pagan Goddess Athena and the Byzantine basilica of the Virgin Mary have been preserved. From the top of the rock city you can take a huge number of panoramic photographs - on one side the sea to the horizon, on the other - the “toy” town itself, in full view, on the third - Apostle Paul Bay, which looks like a lake from above...
Throughout the ancient world, Lindos was famous for its sculptors (by the way, master Haret, who sculpted the Colossus, was from precisely these places). You can admire the work of their hands not only in the archaeological museum of Rhodes, but also in Lindos itself - at the foot of the Acropolis, in front of the central staircase, you can still discern the symbol of the seafaring city - the Hellenic trireme. In addition, local sculptors were able to show their skills in architecture... Having gathered together, they carved an entire amphitheater into the rock.
On the way back we will visit the Church of the Virgin Mary. On the island, this is the only religious building of the Catholic knights, converted for Orthodox needs. But we must pay tribute to the “perestroika” - they preserved all the medieval frescoes. And one of them deserves special attention - the image of a saint with a dog's head. Who is this and why was he canonized? We will find answers to this question inside the church...
We say goodbye to Lindos and move on to a place known as “7 Springs”. Tradition says that the water in each of these springs is holy. Here we have a very unusual way to get rid of sins and bad thoughts, and at the same time rejuvenate ourselves by 10 years (!). You can believe it, you can not believe it... but it’s not in vain that people from all over the world come back here for a new “portion of youth”...
20/05 – Day 4: We cross to Patmos (about 5 hours).
Our ferry is in the afternoon, so the first half of the day can be devoted to “sea procedures”, the main thing is that this year Helios will help us and warm up the sea to the desired condition. As a rule, by the end of May he succeeds.

Departure to Patmos from the port of Mandraki, etc. We will have the opportunity to capture the walls of old Rhodes from the sea with our cameras.

We arrive in Patmos already in the dark - around midnight. Dinner is not possible on this day, so it is worth stocking up on provisions in Faliraki in advance and having a snack during the “swim”.
21/05 – Day 5: Patmos
“What heights above this island! What fog! And the Apocalypse was written here, and Pan died!” (N. Gumilyov)

Regarding Pan, the question is open, but as for the Apocalypse, there is no doubt about that.

Patmos is a very small island, but it’s still worth devoting a whole day to it... - the place is truly iconic. Almost 2 thousand years ago, Emperor Domitian exiled Christ’s beloved disciple, John the Theologian (not to be confused with John the Baptist), for promoting a new teaching.
The then inhabitants of the island considered the pagan Goddess Artemis their patroness, which means that John was forced to live in solitude - in a cave, in which one day visions of the end of the world descended on him, recorded under dictation by the disciple of the Apostle Prochorus.

We will definitely visit the Cave of Revelation, where the most mysterious book of the New Testament was created, but first we will go to the monastery of St. John - outwardly more reminiscent of an impregnable bastion. However, this is understandable - there was never an army on the island, and the monks were forced to defend their possessions themselves.

The monastery houses a huge number of Christian relics. The most valuable of them are the relics of the apostles Thomas and Philip and the chains (shackles) in which John was shackled upon his arrival on the island. The walls around the altar are completely covered with medieval frescoes... We, of course, will see all this.

The monastery is surrounded on all sides by the main settlement of Patmos, Chora, which is very cozy and hospitable. With taverns and shops, which, by the way, sell icons created and consecrated in the monastery.

If you wish, you can also visit the Byzantine Museum.
22/05 – Day 6: Swim to Kos (2 hours)
At noon we say goodbye to Patmos and go to the 3rd largest Dodecanese island - Kos, which was once visited by Hercules, the Argonauts, and Odysseus... According to Hellenic myths, it was from the land of Kos that the first woman - Pandora - was sculpted. They immediately presented her with the ill-fated box as a gift, which, despite the warnings, she still opened. They say that this box, at the bottom of which only one priceless “artifact” remained, is still kept on the island, in one of the caves... But more about this tomorrow...
23/05 – Day 7: The capital of the island is the city of Kos and its surroundings
It is quite logical that it was precisely where a curious woman released ailments and illnesses that the main center counteract them. By the will of the Olympic Gods, the father of modern medicine, Hippocrates, was born here, practiced, taught and wrote his works. On Kos he founded his school at the temple of God Asclepius. Later, his students and followers gave the God of healing a modest but honorable place in one of the rooms at the entrance, and the temple itself was converted into the world's first full-fledged medical complex, called Asklepion, rising in terraces to Sacred Forest. To this day, the “health center” has survived quite well. That's where we'll head first (4 km).
Upon returning to the old city, we will not pass by another important object associated with the name of Hippocrates. This is an old plane tree, under the shade of which he lectured to his students. There is also one tragic event associated with this tree, which we will talk about on the spot.

By the way, if anyone knows doctors, the best gift for them from Kos will be a T-shirt with the full Hippocratic Oath in ancient Greek. You can’t buy one like this anywhere else in all of Greece.
We move to the port fortress of the Knights - St. John. It has been preserved no worse than the Rhodes castles. Among other things, today it is also an antique museum under open air. Sculptures, fragments of architectural decorations, etc. were brought here from all over the island. from all over the island.

Next to the fortress is the agora, that is, main square ancient Kos. From here we move on on foot... to Cassa Romana, that is, a Roman house. It is not known who exactly it belonged to, but it seems that this person occupied not the last place in the island administration, since this house had 256 rooms, three swimming pools and the same number of gardens. Fragments of mosaics and paintings remained on the walls and floor. Next to this villa is a small round theater - the Odeon.

The Archaeological Museum is located in the central square of Eleutherias. If you wish, you can visit it too. This is also where the shopping arcades of the main market begin, through which we wander on our own. By the way, this is the only place where almond and cinnamon syrups are sold, from which the Stamada drink is made – a 100% Kos exclusive.
24/05 – Day 8: Kos - Nisyros
Early in the morning we go to the port, board the next ferry and... 40 minutes later we arrive at Nisyros. The main attraction of the island (and one of the main natural wonders archipelago) - a 260-meter crater of a dormant volcano. This is why we came here. It is located not on the top of a mountain, as is usually the case, but in a valley, so it looks more like a healthy meteorite funnel - 30 meters deep. Anyone who wishes can go down quite decent steps to feel the smell of “burnt fireworks”, which cannot be evaporated by any drafts, and remove deposits of pure sulfur...
We devote the second half of the day to exploring the town of Mandraki - the most “under-Decanese” in the entire archipelago. Houses, streets, taverns are built and painted here in a purely “Cycladic” style - snow-white walls and bright blue shutters, doors and roofs. True, traditionally, “in the Dodecan style,” the bulk of the Venetian castle looms over the town. Nearby is the church and monastery of the Cave Mother of God... In the evening we return to Kos.
25/05 – Day 9: Kos – villages, monasteries and honey (35 km)
There are countless small villages scattered throughout the island, each of which is attractive in its own way. It is very difficult to select the most or least interesting, so we will stop at those that we come across along the route. They are worthy of attention, first of all, because their appearance is not

changed over the centuries and civilization seemed to pass them by.
And our path lies to the southern tip of Kos - to the Kefalos peninsula, where, according to an ancient legend, a ghost dragon lives in the castle. But along the way we will have to stop more than once...

First in Palio Pili, a town built during the Trojan War. They say that Christ appeared to the local residents here more than once, for this reason they decided to build the Church of the Appearance here, which is still in operation. In addition, a magic well was dug and equipped here in time immemorial. How to apply its magical power to yourself - we will figure it out on the spot, as well as the merits of the ancient hero Charmil, whose tomb is also located in Palio Pili (in a private garden).

Nearby, in the village of Ziya, you can buy another Kos exclusive - thyme medicinal honey. However, besides the honey, Zia herself is worthy of attention - her houses are stuck to the steep walls of Mount Dikayos, like swallow's nests or... the famous Meteor monasteries.

In the afternoon we board the ferry again. We arrive at the already familiar Rhodes shores in the evening.
26/05 – Day 10: Rhodes. Filerimos (West Bank - 25 km)
On the way to legendary grief Filerimos will make a short stop in the town of Ialyssos. In ancient times it was one of the three main cities of the island, but today it is an ordinary resort. And we, without hesitation, like most tourists, would have passed by if we had not known that Ialyssos still has one attraction - an old church, the rector of which, over the course of many decades, personally carved out of wood (according to his design ideas) altar and iconostasis. Moreover, this priest was one-eyed.
The Ialisan Acropolis was located at the top of one of the most high mountains islands. Today, very little remains of the “upper city” - a few columns and the foundations of the temples of Zeus and Aphrodite. But we don’t climb Filerimos for their sake. The Rhodes knights built a temple and a monastery on a hard-to-reach mountain top, and the monks were tasked with guarding the most valuable things they had at that time - three relics obtained during the Crusades... What were they and where did they go? Well, let's try to find answers to these questions...
A long cypress alley leads to the 17-meter white cross on the opposite side of the peak. They say this is where the knighting ceremony took place.

Today, inside the cross there is a spiral staircase, along which you can climb one of its rungs and “view” the island from a bird’s eye view.

By the way, Rhodes is full of wild peacocks (also a merit of the knightly order), but, perhaps, most of them are on Filerimos.

On the way back, you must not forget to buy a healing herbal balm, which has been prepared for hundreds of years according to the secret recipes of monks... and is sold only here.
Next on our route is the Rhodes National Park - Valley of the Butterflies. But (!!!) in May, if we see one or two, we can consider ourselves lucky. Therefore, the question for discussion is: is it worth going there at all? On the other hand, the place is interesting even without butterflies - a fairy-tale forest with waterfalls, and at the end of the path - a legendary church built by a friend of A.S. Pushkin - Alexander Ypsilanti.

On the way back, you can stop by a wine factory, taste different types of wine and buy olive or honey soap... (if we don’t meet the deadline, we’ll reschedule the visit to the factory the next day)

The trip ends with a visit to an ostrich farm, which is also a small zoo, where we will be able to get acquainted with the “zoological symbol” of the island - Platoni’s deer. Here you can also have a lunch of ostrich steaks or omelettes.

27/05 – Day 11: Rhodes. Kamiros (West Bank – 35 km)
Scientists attributed rumors about Kamiros to the realm of myths... until Danish archaeologists at the beginning of the 20th century accidentally stumbled upon an ancient necropolis (ancient burials) on the western bank of Rhodes. “There must certainly be a city near the cemetery,” they concluded and began searching. And soon Kamiros was “extracted” from under centuries-old layers of earth and sand, in other words, time and wind reliably preserved it for centuries. For this reason, the policy received the nickname “Greek Pompeii”.

There are no rivers or springs in the Kamiros area. But local residents Nevertheless, they managed to solve the water supply problem very inventively. How? We will see it with our own eyes...

And the Kamiro people were not the last in architectural ingenuity. The city is located on the top of a mountain, the space of which is naturally limited. In such conditions, every meter is valuable. So they came up with the idea of ​​“high-rise buildings”, however, horizontal ones... We will never see such “know-how” anywhere else in the world.

The city was not destroyed by the conquerors. People just abandoned it at some point. Why? We will discuss this in Kamiros...
We return to the eastern shore. On the way, we will stop in the town of Fundukli near the chapel of St. Nicholas, which is about a thousand years old, as well as the frescoes decorating its walls; and in an Italian ghost town abandoned by its inhabitants in the 1940s. We will also stop by Tsambika if we don’t have enough time for this visit on the third day.
And in the evening, with those who want, we will go to the village of Afandou, to visit the living legend of the island, Papa Ouzo (ouzo is Greek vodka). He will turn 89 years old in 2009, but this charismatic grandfather is still rocking with all his might... We will listen to bouzouki and learn to dance sirtaki... In the afternoon we must remember to reschedule our hotel dinner for lunch, since Papa Uzo will not only feed us all, but also “will try to get you drunk” (unlimited quantity of wine)…
28-30/05 – Days 12-14: Rhodes. Simi. Marmaris.
The “mandatory” program is completed. And, as usual, we spend several days at sea. But (!!!) those who don’t want to rest can continue collecting impressions...


  1. ...on the small island of Symi (about an hour by ferry there and the same amount back). The first stop is at the bay of the 800-year-old Panormite Monastery. The second (for 3-4 hours) is in the pretty town of Symi, located like an amphitheater on seashore. The island has long been known for sponge fishing, of which there is an incredible amount. In addition, a special type of shrimp lives in the waters near Symi. Naturally, you can only taste them here.

  2. …in Turkey. From the port of Mandraki to the resort of Marmaris, it is only 40 minutes by speedboat. Traditionally, the excursion lasts 1 day: early in the morning there and back in the evening. But this visit needs to be decided in advance, that is, write to me in March - April: I want to go to Marmaris... and then we will prepare visas for everyone who wants to enter Greece twice.
Well, those who don’t need either the Turkish coast or Simi can spend time...

  1. ... in the Water Park - the largest in all of Hellas... Or look into Rodini Park, preserved since ancient times. They don’t take tourists there now - it’s very neglected, but... that’s why it’s interesting. Emperor Tiberius, who lived in Rhodes in voluntary exile for 6 years, considered this park the most beautiful place islands...

I foresee questions about fur coats and gold... and I answer right away: yes, there is a fur factory with Kastorian craftsmen in Rhodes. But you need to agree in advance so that a car is sent for everyone who wants to go there (free of charge, even if no one buys anything there). The “golden” factory is easily accessible by regular bus(10 minutes).
31/05 – Day 15: Homecoming.

P.S. During the trip, minor changes to the program are possible... Much depends on how much time we will devote to each object...