Karpathos, Dodecanese Islands

In brief
Karpathos, the second largest island in Dodecannese, is spectacularly beautiful, with wild, rugged landscape; mountainous in the north and fertile in the south with wildflowers is a paradise for naturalists. Karpathos has extensive beaches with white sands, often looking quite empty.

General Information
This second largest island of the Dodecanese chain lies between Rhodes and Crete. It is rather rectangular in shape and its terrain is mountainous, the highest peak being Kali Limni at 1,214 metres above sea level. Most of its settlements are to be found on its south coast, which is relatively flat.
Near the north coast is a small island called Saria, with which Karpathos used to be united. On this islet, at the site called Palatia, there are some ruins belonging to the ancient town of Nisyros.

Karpathos’ capital and main port is Pigadia or Karpathos on the southeast coast. It was built primarily with funds sent home by immigrants to the United States and it does not reflect the local architectural style found in the older villages.

Southwest of the capital is Menetes, whose history started after the Middle Ages, and Arkassa which has been identified as the site of ancient Arkesia. Here the ruins of a Christian Basilica of 5th/6th c. AD can still be seen.
Thirteen kilometres to the northwest you come to Piles, mountainous Othos to the northeast with its folk art museum, and Volada, a traditional village with houses whose interior decoration is well worth a look.
Further north, near the west coast, is Messohori, where there is a genuine Karpathian house open to the public. Note its characteristic wooden ornamentation and the pebble mosaic floor. 

Still further north, almost cut off from the rest of the island is its most important village, Olympos , which is accessible only from Diafani, Karpathos’ second port. Olympos sits on a hillside (600 meters altitude) overlooking the Aegean. Founded sometime between the 10th and 15th century, it was originally fortified to afford its residents protection from the pirates. The highest spot in the village used to be crowned with a tower. Even today Olympos has preserved its local architecture intact, both in the interiors and exteriors of the houses. Its citizens take pride in maintaining their traditions and still speak a dialect, which contains several Dorian words and idioms.
Traditions have been well kept in Karpathos and especially in Olympos village; women still wear their beautiful colourful traditional costumes every day, bake bread in their outdoor ovens.

Sightseeing 
The village Olympos is a must!!! Pirates often raided in Karpathos and this little village was a natural camouflage since the people built their houses with natural stone. The village is also called "the Women's' Village") since the women have been and are in majority: their men have either been out fighting pirates and Turks, or forced to work abroad. There are also many local customs here not to be found anywhere else in Greece.

Lefkos is a very pretty little fishing village that is worth a visit, or why not stay the night here. In Arkasa there is a church from the 5th century, Agia Sophia ("Holy Wisdom"). The village Aperi is located on a height of 320m, and used to be the capital, and it is very pretty with small churches, a little square and a fountain.
Menetes is a village in the mountains built during the Middle Ages. There are many churches here as well as an archeological museum, and the view is breathtaking.

Beaches

Karpathos has many beautiful beaches: Finiki, Arkasa, Agia Irini and Amfiarti are long, sandy beaches located to the west, Makriyialos to the southeast, Damatria, Diakoftis, Devils Bay, Agriopotamos to the southern side, Amoopi, Achata, Kato Latos (reachable only by foot), Apella, Agios Nikolaos on the east; mostly pebbled. Diafani, Vananda, Forokli and Agios Minas are at the northern side of the island.

Useful Information
How to get there
By air from Athens
Olympic Airways: +30 2103550500
By sea from Piraeus
Piraeus Port Authority: +30 2104226000-4, +30 2104114005

Useful telephone numbers
Area Code: +30 22450
Municipal Office: 22229 

Police: 22218

Olympic Airways: 22057, 22222 (airport)
Port Authority: 22227
Health Center: 22228

http://www.karpathos.gr