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

Syros, Cyclades Islands

In brief
Syros (or Siros) was the largest cultural and trade center of the Aegean in the 19th century and capital Ermoupolis was Greece's principal port.
From the time of the Fourth Crusade (13th Century) until 1568 Syros belonged to the Duchy of Naxos. After that period the island had a significant Roman Catholic minority which was under the protection of France from piracy and the during Turkish occupation. For this reason the island remained neutral during the War of Independence and people from other islands who escaped massacres found refuge in Syros and built the island's capital -Ermoupolis- between the district of Ano Syros and the seafront.

General Information
The northern part of Syros is mountainous and the island stands out in general for the variety of the landscape in its hinterland, where hills alternate with low-lying farming areas.
The coastline is indented with inlets of all sizes between capes. There are two large bays, of Ermoupoli to the east and Finikas to the west.
Archaeological excavations have shown that Syros was inhabited in Neolithic times.
Diggings at Kastri and Halandriani have revealed a prehistoric acropolis, a settlement and a burial ground, and yielded artifacts of the Early Cycladic period.

Ermoupoli, “Queen of the Cyclades”, is the capital and main harbour of Siros. It is also without doubt the capital of all the Cyclades. Ermoupoli stands on a naturally amphitheatrical site, with neoclassical buildings, old mansions and white houses in the island style cascading down to the harbour. The center of the town where Miaouli Square stands ringed with cafes, has a grandeur all its own.
Among the most important buildings are the Town Hall (to plans by Ziller) and the Apollo Municipal Theatre, which is a copy in miniature of La Scala di Milano. There is also a statue of Admiral Miaoulis.
Ermoupoli has numerous magnificent churches, the most interesting of which are those dedicated to the Transfiguration, the Dormition of Our Lady, St Demetrius, the Three Hierarchs, and St Nicolas.

The Archeological Museum has a collection of notable findings, and the Municipal Library contains numerous interesting and rare editions.
The quarter of the town known as Vaporia, where the sea-captains lived, is of special interest. Along its narrow streets stand neoclassical mansions.

Ano Siros (Upper Siros), with its walls, narrow lanes and arches, has kept much of its medieval character. The steep streets and countless steps lend the town the charm of a bygone age.
At the very top of the town is the Catholic Cathedral of St George, next to which stands the Center for Historical Studies. Not far below are the monasteries of the Jesuits and Capucins. In the center of the town is the Town Hall, with the Historical Archives of the Municipality of Ano Siros, and the Museum devoted to the popular composer Markos Vamvakaris, revered as one of the masters of Greek music. Various folklore events take place in Ano Siros, generally during the summer.

On the north-east side of the island are Halandriani and Kastri hill, where important prehistoric findings have been made.
Among places of interest here is Gramata, where inscriptions dating from the Roman and Byzantine periods are to be found carved on the rocks.
Syros is well-supplied with tourist amenities and its natural beauties and interesting monuments make it an ideal holiday destination. The ease of availability of products and services give the island an advantage over its more isolated neighbours.

Sightseeing
The capital Ermoupolis, or Queen of the Cyclades, is pretty which many neoclassic buildings situated in an amphitheatrically way. On the square is a statue of the freedom hero admiral Andreas Miaouli.
The Apollo Theatre in Ermoupoli is a mini copy of La Scala di Milano. The town also has very interesting churches, for example Agios Dimitrios, Treis Hierarches and Agios Nikolaos. There is also an archeological museum as well as an interesting library.

You should also try to get to Ano Syros, a small village in medieval style. Here you can visit the Catholic Cathedral of St George and the monasteries of the Jesuits and Capucins from the 18th and 17th century respectively a little further away. Here is also a museum dedicated to Markos Vamvakaris, a composer of traditional Rebetika music. There are music festivals every summer in this village.
At Halandriani and Kastri there are archaeological excavations where Neolithic settlements have been found.
The stalactite cave Agios Stefanos is also a significant and worthy visit.

Beaches

The southern and western parts of Syros are the most densely-inhabited. The best beaches are also here, including Galissas, a fine, large resort with a long sandy beach; Possidonia or Delagratsia, a coastal area with a good beach at Angathopes and neoclassical houses of great architectural interest; Vari, with an attractive beach, Finikas bay, Kini and Megas Gialos.
There are more good swimming beaches at Kimata, Agios Nikolaos, Ermoupoli, Ambela, Delfini and Ahladi. 

The beaches of north-west Syros are easily accessible only by sea.

Useful Information

(Area 86 sq. km. Distance from Piraeus 83 nautical miles, distance from Rafina 62 nautical miles)

How to get there
By air from Athens
Olympic Airways: +30 2103550500
By sea from Piraeus, Rafina & Lavrio
Piraeus Port Authority: +30 2104226000-4, +30 2104114005
Rafina Port Authority: +30 22940 28888, 22300
Lavrio Port Authority: +30 22920 25249, 60188

Useful telephone numbers
Area Code: +30 22810
Municipal office: 22500, 22766
Police: 96100, 96112
Port Authority: 88888, 82690
Olympic Airways: 81900, 87025 (airport)
Health Center: 96500, 86666
Archaeological Museum: 28487
Centre for Historical Studies: 22768

http://www.syros.gr