Karpathos island

General info:

The island of Karpathos   lies between the ones of Rhodes and Crete and it is the second largest island of the Dodecanese cluster covering 300 square km approximately and having a population of some 6,500 residents.
Gifted with a diverse relief, the island combines excellently mountain and sea; impressive mountains, dramatic gorges and  dense forests dominate its northern part, while its southern part is adorned  with smooth valleys, vineyards and cultivated plains. Scattered around the island, traditional settlements, significant archaeological sites and old churches add to the natural charm of Karpathos. The idyllic picture of this large , yet somewhat unknown island is complemented by a coastline  of 160 km approximately, in which wonderful clear beaches, amazing coves and  astounding caves are found.
Though Karpathos is not such a major pole of attraction comparing with its neighbouring islands of Crete and Rhodes, nevertheless once visited, it enchants the visitor with its many hidden beauties and its vivid tradition.
Accommodation amenities, a satisfactory nightlife and choices  for mountainous and sea sports are also provided.

Historical profile:
According to mythology, the first settler of the island was Impetus, son of the Titan Uranus and of Gaia. The son of Impetus, Prometheus who stole the fire from Zeus in order to give it to the humankind was also lived on this island.

Historically speaking and according to excavations finds,   Karpathos has been inhabited since the Neolithic Age and was strongly influenced by both the Minoan and the Mycenaean civilizations. Around the 1st millennium BC, the Dorians colonized the island, which was joined in the Athenian League at the 5th century BC. During the Hellenistic and Roman Times, Karpathos was an important centre mainly due to its large port of strategic position. Yet, for this same reason it was  a permanent target for pirates raids and of potentially invaders, a fact that led Karpathos   to an era of decline and forced Karpathians to move inland and found there new towns.
In 1204 and after the Fall of Constantinople, the Franks occupied the island untill1282 when  it came under Genoese rule, while in 1306 it passed into  the hands of the Venetians. In 1537 it was took over by the notorious Ottoman Barbarossa and though it preserved the privilege of its self-autonomy, it participated in the Greek War of Independence that broke out in 1821. Karpathos  was  integrated in the Greek State in 1828, but in 1912 it was occupied by the Italians followed by the Germans. It was finally liberated in 1947.

Villages:
The town of Karpathos (Pigadia) is the island’s capital and main port.  It is rather a small town of some 2,100 residents. Built at the mouth of the port, the capital combines modern and traditional features at the same time. Many new urban houses were erected during the last decades, however one can discover neighbourhoods of delightful stone houses with colourful blooming balconies, especially around the rock that is stands on the left part of the port. At the top of rock the remnants of the ancient acropolis of Posidion, a fortified Mycenaean castle are found.
The ruins of the Basilica of Agia Fotini, the Cave of the Neptune, at the site of  Myli, that a monumental  tomb has been discovered  and which  is assumed to be served as  an Altar of Aphrodite and the Church of Agia Kyriaki that crowns a rock offering a fabulous view are some of the most worth-visiting sites of Pigadia.
Being a lively town, the capital offers many accommodation and entertainment options for every pocket and taste.

Aperi, lies off 10 km approximately northwest to the capital. Built on the slopes of a mountain, it was once the capital of Karpathos and one of the richest villages. Today it is the cultural centre of the island  with beautiful mansions and traditional houses that shadowed by the hill of Koraki, at the top of which the ruins of the ancient acropolis are still standing. In the surrounding area worth-seeing are the remnants of an ancient Temple at the site of Ahata, the ruins of three Castles,  the Sanctuary of Apollo at the site of Volada near the wonderful green valley of Pini, and the churches of Agios Georgios (St. George) and of Kyra Panagia.

Arkasa located some 15 km southwest to the capital and built almost upon the ruins of the homonymous ancient city attracts many visitors for its impressive atmosphere. Situated in a beautiful natural landscape and surrounded by archaeological relics, Arkasa  is like  an open museum with the  ruins of the 5-th century basilica  with outstanding mosaics, the remnants  of the ancient  acropolis and of Hellenist walls at Paliokastro cape to be the most important.

Menetes  just some 8  km southwest to the capital is a delightful village, known for its long tradition  to music. Built amphitheatrically on the slopes of a hill and having remained  Intact by the  tourism, Menetes consists of traditional whitewashed houses with blooming courtyards, narrow alleys and idyllic squares. The byzantine chapel of Agios Mammas with interesting  hagiographies, the 19th - century Church of the Assumption and the archaeological  collection with finds from the surrounding area are  main features of Menetes.

Lefkos is a coastal resort situated 30 km approximately northwest to the capital. In its boundaries it embraces  some of the  most interesting  beaches of the island,  Lefkos becomes crowded during high season, yet without loosing its idyllic identity. Besides its beauty, the resort attracts many visitors for the ruins of the acropolis and the impressive mosaics at the site of Pelekito, and also because from here one may visit the islet of Sokastro, which lies off opposite to  Lefkos.  On this islet remains of a medieval settlement and fortifications are standing.

Beaches:
In its coastline of some 150 km, Karpathos embraces stunning beaches of clear waters. Most of them are  found in sites of natural beauty.

The  beaches of Ammos, Afoti and Vronti  are all    well-organized  sandy  beaches  near the capital, with magnificent clear waters. The beaches of Amoupi (Amoopi)and Megali Amoupi (or Votsalakia) are equally well-organized pebbled beaches with crystalline waters and together with the  sandy beach of Kyra Panagia, that is found in a dramatic scenery, are the most popular of Karpathos gathering people of all age.

Other beautiful beaches are the Pera Ammos, a long-stretched and organized sandy beach with fabulous waters, the Kastelia  beach  of blue-green waters, surrounded by a rocky scenery and the  Makris Yialos (Gialos) beach, which is  particularly popular among windsurfers for its   golden sand and its crystalline waters.

Access:
Karpathos   is linked by scheduled trips with Piraeus Port and also with the island of Rhodes, Halki, Kasos, Milos, Santorini and Crete.
By air , the island is connected with  the International Airport of Athens “Eleftherios Venizelos”  and also with the Airports of Kasos, Rhodes and Crete (Sitia).