ALEXANDRA PENSION Tel. + 30 22460 49248 - www.alexandrapension-kastelorizo.gr
BILLY’ S APARTMENTS Tel: + 30 22460 49224
CARETTA ROOMS Tel. & Fax + 30 22460 49028
IRENE Studios – Mandraki – Tel. + 30 22460 49269, 49232 | Fax: + 30 22460 49205
KARNAGIO TRADITIONAL RENOVATED HOUSES Tel. + 30 22460 49266, 49225 Fax + 30 22460 49266
KONSTANTINA Tel. + 30 22460 49256
MANDRAKI PARADISE MAISONETTES Tel. + 30 22460 49006 – www.mandraki.gr
PALAMERIA STUDIOS Tel. + 30 22460 49282 Fax + 30 22460 49071
PANORAMA STUDIOS - Μandraki – Tel. + 30  22460 49098, 49319 Fax + 30 22460 49098
POSEIDON APARTMENTS Tel. + 30 22460 49257, 49243 Fax + 30 22460 49257 – www.kastelorizo-poseidon.gr

USEFUL PHONE NUMBERS
Port Authority of Megisti + 30 22460 49270
Port Authority of Rhodes + 30 22410 28888
Airport of Megisti + 30 22460 49250
Airport of Rhodes + 30 22410 83400, 83403
Post Office + 30 22460 49298
Telephone Company + 30 22460 49289
Local Health Center + 30 22460 49267

The island has been inhabited since prehistoric times.
Later, Dorians settled here and built fortifications on the site of the present capital and at Paleokastro.
The island was conquered by the Romans, and the Byzantines.
It acquired the name Kastelorizo much later, from the castle built by the Knights of St. John in the 14t c., on the red rock (Castello- Rosso= red castle).
The conquering of the island continued from 1440 to 1522 consequently by the Egyptians, the Franks and the Turks. Megisti was subjected to the resistance of the Turkish dominion without resistance and in return only paid an annual tax and maintained the freedom of religion, language and national traditions. At that time, its merchant fleet had a prominent place among the merchant shipping of the Dodecanese.
Kastelorizo was bombed during First World War. It was then that residents started to immigrate.
This continued and after Second World War, when the island was bombed once again.
The island formally joined the Greek State on 7 March 1948 together with the other Dodecanese islands.

The island has become more popular in recent years, among tourists looking for an isolated place in the Dodecanese, thank also to the 1991 Oscar-winning movie Mediterraneo, which is set on this island.

KASTELORIZO is the harbor and the only settlement of the island.
The picturesque capital is built around the sides of a protected bay on the north coast. It is a small, quiet town with beautiful two or three-storey houses painted in vivid colors in the local architectural style.
Just behind them lies the castle of the Knights of the order of St. John built in the 14th century on an impressive red rock that gave the island its actual name (Castello Rosso = Castellorizo). Today, only parts of its exterior walls and of some of its towers are still intact. Sections are preserved of an outer fortification wall and three towers. Below the fortress is a tomb in the form of a small temple dug into the rock; it dates from the late 5th – early 4th c. BC. and is in a good state of preservation.

Ascending the 401 steps on the eastern side of the town, one reaches the monastery of  St. George Tou Vounou. Inside the monastery there is a catacomb and Saint Charalambos.
The church of Saints Constantine and Helen (1835) is also of interest. It is the Cathedral church of Megisti and has several Gothic elements. It is a church of exceptional art, with a three-nave basilica, rich icons, marble icons screens and a tall marble bell tower.

Neolithic tools have been found at Paleokastro, 2 kilometers south-west of the town, and many cisterns and Ancient and Byzantine buildings are also preserved here. In the castle precincts are two churches, next to each other: one of the Panagia Kastrou and one of Agios Stefanos.

At Limenari, the remains are preserved of “Cyclopean” walls and there are the remains of ancient tombs at Avlonia.

The Archaeological and Folklore Museum, housed in a bastion of the castle contains some important items.

Nearby the island’s port there are coasts ideal for swimming (Faros, Plakes, Mandraki)
One of the major sights of the island is the Grotto of Parasta, or Fokiali (Blue Grotto), which can be visited by boat. Its interior is decorated with beautiful stalactites and stalagmites. It is one of the most beautiful marine caves in Mediterranean.

NEARBY ISLANDS
The uninhabited islet of RO is situated 3 nautical miles north of Kastelorizo. The islet became famous from Kyra of Ro, Despina Achladioti, the only resident, who for years looked out for the island and raised the Greek flag every morning.
The coasts of the little uninhabited islets Ro, Strongyli, Agios Georgios are ideal for swimming.

TRADITION – EVENTS
There are many traditional festivals on Megisti, outstanding amongst them being the celebrations for Easter, which are accompanied by local dances and songs.
The most important one is on 20th July for the celebration of Prophet Elias. Also, on the 13th of September there are celebrations for the Day of Independence of the island. The feast of St. Paraskevi is held in June and of the Assumption of Virgin Mary in August.

LOCAL PRODUCTS – CUISINE
In the taverns and restaurants of the island you will taste fresh fish and the traditional local recipes. Don’t miss to taste the delicious local sweets as katoumaria (sweet pie), lazarakia, strava sweets and soumada drink.