Symi island

General info:

The small, delightful island of Symi lies off between Rhodes and Tilos and close to the coasts of the Minor Asia. It covers an area of some 60 square km and it is inhabited by 2,500 residents approximately.
Symi is characterized by a rocky relief adorn with forested hills and a green mainland creating thus an interesting contradiction, while its coastline of some 90 km encompasses a range of beautiful beaches.
The island is very popular for its charming and romantic atmosphere due to  its colourful houses of remarkable architecture, an art for which Symi is famed, the delightful tiny chapels, the windmills, the Castle of the Knights and the imposing Monasteries.
Despite its size, Symi is a lively island which combines harmoniously tradition and elegancy, tranquillity and cheerfulness, promising  therefore, a fascinating staying.

Historical profile:
 
The first traces of organized life in Symi are dating back to the Neolithic Age. The island was colonized by the Carians, the Dorians and by people from Argos. During the Hellenist Times Symi was under the authority of Rhodes and followed the same fate. In the 13th century it was dominated by the Knights of St, John until 1522 when it was occupied by the Ottomans.
Symi participated in the Greek War of Independence in 1821. In 1912 the Italians took over it followed by the Germans in 1943. Symi was freed and integrated in the Greek State in 1948.

Villages:

The capital of Symi consists in fact by two settlements; the Ano (Upper Symi) and Yialos (Gialos) which is the port of the island.
Entering at the scenic harbour , the capital  instantly captivates the visitor with its elegant charm.  An amalgam of traditional houses and elegant mansions all painted in warm pastel hues are   spreading on the slopes of a hill and    climb down to the port, creating a beguiling  picture themselves. Walking though the narrow lanes of the town you will discover idyllic neighborhoods with blooming courtyards, beautiful  squares, impressive churches  with fine pebbly yards and magnificent  neoclassical buildings such  as the Town Hall, the Maritime Museum and the one of  the  National Bank   of Greece. 
The entrance of the port is dominated by the impressive Tower Clock and the stone bridge while at the highest spot of the capital stands proudly the Castle of the Knights.  The Monastery of   Roukouniotis and the fortified one of Panormitis are definitely worth a visit.
It is of no wonderful that Symi  early on has been listed as a preserved settlement.  Here you will find many accommodation facilities, taverns and restaurants as well as cozy coffee-bars, stylish bars and night clubs.

Emporios (or Nimporios), lies off 4 km approximately northwest to the capital.  It is an idyllic, peaceful coastal settlement known mainly for its long pebbled beach, the remains of a petrified forest and the ruins of a paleochristianic basilica. Being a quite settlement, Emporios offers few accommodation amenities.

Panormitis, located 13 km approximately south to the capital, is a scenic small settlement,  built in the arms of a secluded bay and surrounded by a dense forest. The Monastery of the Archangel Michael with a wooden temple and a remarkable Library and the remnants of the ancient Walls built by the Pelasgians are the most worth-seeing sites in Panormitis.

Beaches:

Symi offers a variety of idyllic beaches with crystal –clear waters. Some of them are accessible only by boat, yet there are taxi- boats that organize daily trips to them.

The Nos  beach, an organized  one, with  crystalline waters  and the pebbled equally organized  beach of Nanou  that is surrounded by cliffs and offers tree-shade are the most popular ones.
The Agios Nikolaos  beach is an organized and tree-shaded one   reached only by boat and the same applies for the non organized beach of Agios Georgios. Yet both of them are worth-visiting for their wonderful sparkling waters and their scenic environment.
Other fine beaches are the Agia Marina beach, an organized one with shallow clear  waters and Pedi an organized one that consist of several smaller  beaches.

Access:

Symi     is connected via scheduled trips   with the port of Piraeus and also with the     islands   of Rhodes, Patmos, Kalymnos  Leros, Lipsi, Kos and  Nisyros.

 

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