Greek Dodecanese Islands, or Dodecans are located in the southeastern part of the Aegean Sea, off the coast of Turkey. Although the word “dodecan” and means “twelve islands”, but in fact there are much more: about one and a half hundred. Only inhabited – more than twenty. Another name for these islands is southern disputes. Together with the eastern, northern, western and Thracian disputes, they make up the bulk of the Greek islands. The word “sporadic” means random, unstable, single. That is how they are located: sporadically, that is, how it hit.
In the Middle Ages, the Joannits knights settled here, they are also hospitals, who were even called the Rhodes at that time. On the island of Rhodes, the main island of the archipelago, you can inspect the castle of the main master of the order, and on the rest of the islands, many patrol fortresses have been preserved in one form or another. Then for a long time the southern dispute belonged to the Ottoman Empire, and from 1912 to 1943 – Italy. Both that and the other left a noticeable mark here. After the end of World War II, the Dodecanese Islands reunited with Greece.
If the largest islands – Rhodes and Kos – are relatively well studied by our tourists, then the rest are much worse. In the article we will talk about the most interesting islands of the Dodecan archipelago. We will move from north to south.
Patmos
This is perhaps the most famous island of the archipelago. It was here in 97 AD John the Theologian wrote “Apocalypse”, the final book of the New Testament. In the cave where he lived, his bed, cut down in stone, was preserved. The impregnable walls of the fortress-monastery, founded in the XI century, rise above the island. The monastery is surrounded by Khoroy, a snow-white city-labyrinth, almost deserted and from that mysterious.
Secular life is concentrated around the main port of the Patmos, which is called, as well as in the towns of Grikos and Campos. There are a lot of international youth, which nipple around the coastal cafes and moves on scooters between numerous beaches. And very close to Patmos are three small paradise islands – arches, lips and Agafonisi. There are almost no people here, and secluded beaches are exactly those that are dreamed of cold Russian in winter.
Leros
The main city of Lerosa, the Platanos, smoothly goes into the resort village of Agia Marina, stretching along the coast by several hundred meters. Above it, as expected, the medieval fortress rises, with which stunning views of numerous harbor and bays open.
But the main thing for which it is worth coming here at least for a day is Lacca’s port, built by Italians as a naval base at the beginning of the 20th century. Most public buildings and private houses in which the families of marine officers lived are in desolation today. The view of this ghost city is absolutely surrealist. It seems to be a chic seaside town, and on the streets and embankments – not a soul, unless the flock of teenagers will flash from nowhere, and a rare regular bus will join. The feeling that you are either in a dream, or among the scenery for some post-apocalyptic film: empty cafes and restaurants, shops and souvenir shops, huge mansions in which no one lives … and at the same time-the sun, summer, sea.
Kalimnos
The capital of Kalimnos by island standards is almost a metropolis. Most houses in it are also built by Italians, so you won’t immediately understand where you are in Greece or in Italy.
The island is relatively large, but a little random. The word “sporadic” approaches him the most. More recently, Kalimnos was known as the island of the fishing lines of the sea sponges. All the island’s shops are lit up today, but only they are now brought from somewhere in China, and local residents are no longer engaged in such pampering, completely switching to the Turin inventory. But if you are lucky, and you will fall on some village holiday, you will see the very funny traditional “dive of the diver” preserved since those times.
Recently, Kalimnos has become popular among climbers and speleologists. And if you are one of them, then you need to get here for sure.
Once on Kalimnos, be sure to try a local specialty – Muuri – a lamb stuffed with rice and herbs.
NISIROV
On the tiny Nisiros, you can go to the burn of the current volcano. The most amazing thing: you do not need to rise to him, but, on the contrary, go down. In the middle of the vast “lunar-Marcian” valley there is a funnel with a diameter of three hundred meters, at the bottom of which several small yellow volcanoes will vigorously steal. The poster gives the sensations to the sensations: “You carry out the descent into the crater of the volcano at your own peril and risk.”
Buses to the volcano set off from the main pier of Nisiros. But try to make an excursion into this underworld not in the heat itself, because otherwise you are facing a thermal blow.
Another interesting attraction is to get by a local bus to the Nikia mountain village and look at the volcano from above. And then sit on one of the cozy areas of the dodecanes with a glass of ice racin or a glass of Rezin.
Simi
Simi is some kind of incredibly homemade island. Here you need to go for beauty and peace. In its central part, small valleys spread out, and the steep and rocky shores form many tiny bays with sandy beaches.
The capital of the island of Simi, perhaps, is one of the most photogenic towns of Dodecanes. It is all made up of the stunning beauty of multi -colored houses with biases, tympans, balconies, ladders, etc. From the lower city (Yalos) to the upper (ANO Simi) rises a steep street-lace of Calistrate, which means “beautiful path”. It leads to a traditional medieval fortress with the same traditionally stunning species.
The main attraction of the island is the Monastery of Panormitis, dedicated to the Archangel Mikhail and standing right on the embankment. Its multi -colored bell tower replicated by many cards is reflected in the waters of the Aegean, and the interiors are decorated with Byzantine frescoes.
Another natural miracle of Simi is the Ayos Georgios Disalonas Beach, surrounded on all sides by three hundred meter shear cliffs. It is considered one of the most impressive beaches in the world.
And, yes, do not forget about food. Simi is famous for his shrimp, fried in olive oil.
Castelloriso
The eastern of all the inhabited Greek Islands. It lies just two kilometers from the coast of Turkey and seven kilometers from the nearest Turkish city of cereals, which attracts here many European tourists vacationing in Turkey. On Castelloriso, there is only one settlement – Meii. So sometimes the whole island is called. In translation, this word, not without irony, means “the largest.”
The island became famous after the release of the Italian film “Mediterranean Sea” in 1991, which received Oscar as the best film in a foreign language. This military comedy was completely shot on Castelloriso, and the flow of tourists, especially Italian, was not long in coming. If in 1991, Meiysti looked almost the same as in 1943 (the time of the film),
Today it has become quite modern. And what HTAPODOKEFTECE (cigarettes from an octopus) do here! ..
On Castelloriso is one of the most beautiful sea caves in Greece. This is a parasta cave, or a blue cave. You can only get into it by boat. On the same boat you can go to one of the many uninhabited islands located in the neighborhood. The beaches there are simply excellent. And nobody.
Carpatos
This is the largest island in our review. He, of course, is much smaller than Rhodes, but compare in size with a braid. Most settlements are located in the southern, plain part of the island, and real mountains rise in the north, the peaks of which rise more than a kilometer.
Carpatos should go to lovers of antiquities. In many mountain villages of the island, a traditional household way is still preserved. The residents of the town of Olympos, who even speak in their special Dorian dialect, are famous for tradition. To Olympos from the capital and the main port of the island to get along the mountain serpentine for more than an hour. However, you can get here from the port of Diafani, located only ten kilometers.
The main tourist entertainment is to have dinner in one of the many Tavern of Olympos with a view of the sunset. Needless to say, all products here are only local and natural, and dishes are made according to ancient recipes. Bread is baked here, right with you, in the furnace on firewood, and wine from a neighboring vineyard.
Practical information
All islands are connected with each other, as well as with the administrative center – the island of Rhodes – a ferry message. In the summer, these are two or three, or even more ferries daily. Tickets can almost always be bought just before departure or the day before. The schedule of the main ferries can be seen here.
From large islands to nearby small islands you will be thrown by the boats of local agencies, which are usually located next to the main port of the island. Most often, it has the same name as the island itself. In many islands, ferries are met by local residents in order to rent housing. If desired, you can find a room for 20 euros. Inside the islands, good bus communication has been established. Taxi is relatively inexpensive. You can also rent a car, scooter (we need rights) or a bicycle. Unlike the rest of Europe, hitchhiking works well in the Greek islands.
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