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Karpathos.
This second large island of the Dodecanes 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 Nisyros.
Karpathos' capital and main port is Pigadia or Karpathos on the
southeastcoast.
It was built primarily with funds sent home by immigrants to
the United States and it does 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.
A.D. 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 ornamentationand
the pebble mosaic floor. Still further north, almost cut off
fromthe rest of the island is its most important village Olympos,
which is accesible only from Diafani, Karpathos' second port.
Olympos sits on a hillside overlooking the Aegean. Founded sometime
between the 10th and the 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 interiorsand exteriors of the houses. Its citizenstake pride
in maintaining their traditions and still speak a dialect which
contains several DOrian words and idioms. Karpathos has many
beautiful beaches: Finiki and Amfiarty to the southwest, Makriyalos
to the southeast, Agia Irini on the west coast and Agios Nikolaos
on the east.
source: Greek National Tourist Organisation |
