Kos the island of Hippocates the father of medecine is an ideal holiday destination of international fame which has developed into a cosmopolitan center and is starting to feature high in the list of tourist preferences.
In addition to its superb natural setting, it offers important archaeological monuments and finds, marvelous golden sandy beaches, an excellent tourist infrastructure and easy access by both air and sea.
The beautiful town of KOS, the capital, is built in a verdant area at the north-east end of the island. Palm trees grow at the sides of the streets, which are full of bicycles, a mode of transport very popular for the inhabitants.
It is a modern town, with a carefully laid-out urban design and street plan, some fine squares, modern buildings, wide streets, many hotel units, tourist complexes, places of entertainment, shops, etc., and ample facilities for sports and night life.
There is a good swimming at the beaches around the town: Meropida, Psalidi, Agios Fokas, Dimitra, Lambi and Faros. There are hotels of all categories, rooms to let, restaurants and bars for your nightlife.
Lambi beach has shallow crystal waters and it is fully organized with all the facilities for water sports.
At Thermes, 1 km. south-west of Agios Fokas, there are mineral springs, with facilities and baths.
Archaeological excavations on the site of the ancient city have revealed foundations of ancient buildings (the ancient agora), buildings of the Hellenistic and Roman periods (a gymnasium, the Casa Romana – a Roman house with fine mosaics – an “odeion” and Roman baths), sections of a classical fortification wall, and the remains of two temples, one of Aphrodite and the other probably dedicated to Hercules. In addition to those in the Casa Romana, elaborate mosaics have been found in a villa dating from the 4th c. BC, in the house of the Abduction of Helen and in the buildings of Dionysos.
The sights in the city worth seeing include:
The plane tree of Hippocrates, a huge tree whose trunk has a circumference of twelve meters; it is thought to be the oldest tree in Europe and, according to tradition, was planted by Hippocrates himself, who taught in its shade.
The Venetian Castle of the Knights of St. John (15th c.), which is in a good state of preservation and is a striking example of the defensive architecture of the period.
The Loggia, a two-storey, 18th c. building with a tall minaret, built of material taken from the area of the ancient city.
There are some interesting Early Christian churches both inside and outside the town: the basilica of Agios Ioannis and the churches of Agios Nikitas Ftohos, Agia Ekaterini, the Panagia Syndriani and the Panagia Tsoukalaria, all of which have some notable wall-paintings and finely carved icons.
The Archaeological Museum in the town (tel. 22420 28326) houses finds of Classical, Hellenistic and Roman times, amongst them a statue of Hippocrates.
The ASKLEPIEION (4th c. BC) lies 4 kilometers outside the town, set in a verdant area overlooking the sea. Building work on it began after the death of Hippocrates. Because of the sloping nature of the ground, the buildings in the sanctuary are set on three different terraces, connected by a grand staircase.
The first terrace was a kind of courtyard, surrounded by colonnades in which, according to the evidence, various events took place and in which the medical school was also housed.
The main building on the second terrace was an altar (3rd c. BC). Two restored columns belong to the 3rd c. temple of Asklepios.
The highest terrace is dominated by the 2nd c. BC temple of Asklepios, a Doric temple surrounded by a Hellenistic colonnade.
In the area there are also traces of the rooms occupied by the sick. The statues that adorned the buildings in the sanctuary were also famous.
The island of Kos has many villages, in superb natural settings, of which we may mention the following:
ASFENDIOU: 14 kilometers south of Kos town. It lies in a verdant region in the foothills of Mount Dikaios.
TIGAKI: 14 kilometers west of the town. It is a coastal settlement and an important tourist resort opposite the small island of Pserimos. Its long beach of white sand with shallow waters is ideal for families with children.
PYLI: 17 kilometers south-west of Kos town. It extends over a verdant plain with the ruins of a Byzantine castle, in which is preserved a church of Ipapanti.
ANTIMACHIA: 25 kilometers south-west of the capital. It is built on a plateau, on which is the island’s airport. It is a picturesque village that to a great extent preserves traditional customs of the island. There are also several old houses built in the local architectural style. Visitors can gain a good idea of this by visiting the House of Antimachia, a building that now functions as a folklore museum.
MASTICHARI: It is the port of Antimachia and the second largest harbor on the island, a small road stead on the north coast. A well-preserved Venetian castle with a fortification wall, some houses inside the enceinte, cisterns and two Byzantine churches, stands 3 kilometers to the south of Antimachia. It has an extended, fully organized and cosmopolitan beach more than 5 km. long, ideal for wind surfing.
MARMARI with its silver sands and tourist facilities is to the north of Pyli, opposite Pserimos. At Marmari there is a riding club.
KARDAMENA: 29 kilometers south-west of Kos town is a modern tourist resort with a superb, long sandy beach and a good tourist infrastructure. There are many modern and luxurious hotels, facilities for water sports and night life.
Outside the village is the Byzantine church of Agia Theodoti and also the ruins of a Hellenistic theater.
KEFALOS: 43 kilometers from the town. It lies at the south-west end of the island, in an area that contains a large number of monuments. It is a traditional settlement with a long history, since it is here that the ancient capital of the island was located. On the top of the hill are preserved the ruins of the castle, and at Palatia, 2 kilometers outside the village, are the ruins of the ancient capital, Astypalea. In Kefalos there is a traditional house that functions as a folklore museum.
Kefalos beach has crystal clear waters and is considered as one of the most beautiful and popular on the island.
A short distance away are the sea-side settlements of Kamari and Agios Stefanos, just opposite the small island of Kastri. Further off can be seen the islands of Yali and Nisyros. Kamari is a sandy beach ideal for windsurfing.
TRADITION – EVENTS
There are several cultural events on Kos island.
The Hippocratia the most important cultural event of the island is a festival that includes exhibitions, performances of plays, displays of dancing, concerts, and so on, is held in July and August.
In the Asklepieion, there is a re-enactment of the swearing of the Hippocratic oath every Sunday afternoon. The international Hippocratic Foundation of Kos also organizes important medical conferences. There are local involving eating, drinking and dancing in many of the villages and a traditional carnival is held during Lent at Antimachia. In the Mastihari Wine Festival is offered home made wine and local delicacies.
On the 8th of September the great feast of the Virgin Mary takes place at Kardamena.
LOCAL PRODUCTS – CUISINE
The most famous local recipes of Kos island are katimeria (a kind of fried cheese pie with mizithra cheese served with honey), pitaridia, baklavas and tomato sweet that are really tasteful. Don’t miss to taste the local refreshment kanellada.
In the vineyards of the island is produced white sweet wine of fine quality. Kos produces also posa cheese (cheese in red wine) and Antimahia’s honey is famous.
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