Greek Islands Portal

Karpathos is the second largest of Dodecanese islands after Rhodes, with an area of 301 square kilometers and 160 kilometers of coastline.
It lies 30 nautical miles to the south-west of Rhodes. It has a mountainous terrain and fairly indented coasts.
The corrosion of the rocks by the sea has cut off the islet of Saria in the north of the island, which now is separated from Karpathos by a narrow channel.

Traces of human life have been found on the island from the end of Neolithic Era. The first inhabitants came in Karpathos from Asia Minor. The primitive Neolithic civilization continued to the 3rd millennium, but around 2.000 BC. Minoan colonists from Crete brought economic and cultural development to the island.
In ancient times the island had four important cities that came under control of first the Athenians and then the Spartans. The major city of those times was apparently Karpathos which was possibly situated in the area of Aperi. The other three cities were Arkesia, near the village of Arkasa, Vrykous, (which today is called Vroukounta, in the northwest of Karpathos) and Nisiros which possibly was situated on the island of Saria. This islet in ancient times was an independent island and was called Saros.

During Roman times, it was part of the Roman province whose capital was Rhodes.
After the dismemberment of the Byzantine Empire by the Franks, it formed part of the principate of Leon Gavalas.

In 1821 Karpathos took part in the Greek revolution of independence against the Turks. It was captured by the Turks and finally by the Italians.
Karpathos was incorporated to the Greek State in 1948 together with all the islands of the Dodekanese.
Its inhabitants reverently preserve the traditions and customs of their land.