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Looking for a studio or apartment on Kos island, towards Psalidi, close to Kos town ?

	Michalis Studios & Apartments is the ideal accommodation choice,
	situated 3 km from the centre of Kos town. The studios & apartments
	are just a 20 minute walk from Kos town, and 300 metres from the
	nearest beach. Nearby is the Kos Marina, a frequent bus service, and
	also a variety of restaurants and shops. Travelling to Kos, stay with
	us, you won't be disappointed ! More info >>

Villages in Kos TOUR OF KOS ISLAND

Kos Island has an excellent road network, and there are frequent public transport links

between Kos town and most of the villages of the interior and the beaches. It is possible

to rent cars, motor-cycles / mopeds, and bicycles, and there are many taxis available

available for hire. So, even if you don't bring your own car with you on one of the regular

ferry-boats, you won't find it difficult to move about, and you'll be able to choose whatever

means of transport you want to visit the sights of the island.

ASFENDIOU

ZIPARI - LAGOUDI - ZIA - TINGAKI (TIGAKI)

From Kos town we take the main road that crosses the entire island south-westwards

from the capital as far as Kefalos. After Mesaria, which is famous for the little church of

Ai Yiannis Chostou, which is built above a Mycenean tomb, we come to Zipari. This

village, which is divided in two by the main road, is the center of the plain of Asfeni. It is

9 km from Kos town and has developed into a modern township. Outside Zipari have been

discovered the ruins of two Early Christian basilicas, of Pavlos and Kapamas.

From Zipari, a road leads to the left, bringing us after 4 km, to the slopes of Mount

Dikaios (with the church of Christ the Just - Dikaios - on its summit), and the municipality

of Asfendiou with its widely scattered neighbourhoods: Evangelistria, which has a parish

church of the same name, Asomatos, with the 11th Century church of the Taxiarchs

Asomatoi (the Archangels Michael and Gabriel), Lagoudi to the west, with the church

of Ayios Ioannis Theologos built amidst the rocks, and Ayios Dimitrios or Charkoutes,

a now abandoned village with a church of Ayios Dimitrios.

Zia, the southernmost and highest neighbourhood of Asfendiou, lies amongst citrus trees

and free-flowing springs, such as Kefalovrysi. Zia, is a beautiful mountain village, built

around the hillside with a breathtaking view over the surrounding area. Zia has many

restaurants and shops selling folk art and is a tourist attraction all the year round. The area

around Zia is of outstanding natural beauty and the village has been declared a traditional

settlement, as has the whole of Asfendiou. This region of Asfendiou, which is 14 km

from Kos town, can also be reached by a road from the Asklepeion.

After Zipari, a road to the right takes us to Tingaki (Tigaki) on the coast. This is a busy

holiday village and has one of the finest beaches on the island. It is part of the municipality

of Asfendiou, and lies 12 km away from Kos town. Between Tingaki and Marmari are

the salt pans of Alyki, where large quantities of cooking salt are produced.

PYLI

LINOPOTIS - MARMARI - PYLI

	Beyond Tingaki, the main road leads to Linopotis. In this area there is a large spring
	known as the Lake of Pyli, which is used to irrigate the plain of this village. At this point

the road forks. Just to the north is the coastal settlement of Marmari, which has a large

beach, crystal-clear water, and many tourist facilities. The fork leading south from

Linopotis brings us to Pyli.

Pyli lies in the heart of Kos Island, 15 km south-west of Kos town. A beautiful traditional

village built amidst olive groves, this is a lively and interesting center. Near the square is

a fountain with six spouts. The rectangular building from which the water issues was

inaugurated in 1592. At the same place is the Charmyli fountain, a source of abundant

water that takes its name from the Koan hero Charmylos. The tomb of Charmylos is in

the same area, 150 m to the east of the fountain. The tomb dates from the 3rd Century BC

and is one of the most interesting monuments on Kos Island, consisting of a semicircular

building with twelve identical crypts. Above the tomb stands the little church of the Holy

Cross. The pieces of white marble incorporated in the walls of this building are taken from

the columns of the Ionic stoa that enclosed the facade of Charmylos's tomb.

Palio Pyli (Old Pyli), situated 4 km to the south-east, the slopes of Mount Dikaios. The

ruins of the village of Palio Pyli can be seen at a height of 300 m. Old Pyli was abandoned

by the inhabitants in 1830 because of a cholera epidemic. In Old Pyli are the ruins of the

church of the Archangel Michael and the fine church of the Ypapandi (Presentation in

the Temple): the latter has a wood-carved iconostasis, some 14th Century wall-paintings,

and ancient columns, probably from the sanctuary of the goddess Demeter, remains of

which have been found at Kyparissi Amaniou. Many of the finds from this archaeological

site are on display in the Archaeological Museum, amongst them three statues of

Demeter, three of Kore (Persephone), and one of Hades.

The Castle of Pyli

The remains of the castle of Pyli, which used to be called the Peripatos castle, are

preserved above the ruined village on the west side of the Dikaios range. The castle was

one of the strongest Byzantine fortresses on Kos Island and was built on the site of an

ancient sanctuary. The inhabitants used to take refuge in it, on account of its accessibility,

which was also the cause of its final destruction by the Turks. From this point there is a

superb view over the plain and the beaches of Kos.

ANTIMACHIA (ANTIMACHEIA)

After the fork for Marmari and Pyli, the road proceeds to Antimachia. The village of

Antimahia lies 25 kilometers to the south-west of Kos, near the airport. It is a picturesque

traditional village, whose inhabitants respect and preserve the customs and traditions of

their native place. They love to dance and sing, eat good food, and keep alive their traditional

music, which can be enjoyed at the local festivals, when the versifiers, singers, musicians

and dancers of Antimachia let their hair down.

It is well worth visiting the House of Antimachia, a typical traditional house of the beginning

of the present century, built on the initiative of the Cultural Society, and containing

furniture, objects, vessels and tools gleaned from old houses in the village. The layout is

that of a typical local traditional house and, in addition to the main residence, it has a

barnyard with farming tools, the fournario with the loom, a courtyard with the stamnostati

and stables for the animals. In front of the house is the Priest's Mill, which has been

restored and is in operation. The picturesque windmills in this area give the landscape

a romantic touch.

The village of Antimachia still retains the name it had in ancient times, when it was called

deme of the Antimachidai, after Antimachos, the son of the legendary hero Herakles. A

metalled road leads to Mastichari, the harbor of Antimachia, 4 km to the north of the

village. This is a tourist resort, with a large sandy beach and many tourist amenities. To

the west is Ayios Ioannis beach, an excellent beach with superb sea-bathing. In this area

was found the early Christian three-aisled basilica of St John, with a mosaic floor and a

fine baptistery.

The Castle of Antimachia

The Ventian castle of Antimachia stands on a hill 150 m high, some 3 km to the east of

the village. It was erected at the beginning of the 15th Century AD to control the north

and south sides of Kos Island. The fortification walls, which are in a fairly good state of

preservation, enclose the remains of houses, water cisterns, and two old churches. The

aisleless church of Ayios Nikolaos, which has an apse at the east end and a vaulted roof,

has some of its wall-painted decoration preserved, including the Presentation in the

Temple on the south wall and the Dormition on the west. The building incorporates some

coats-of-arms that were probably brought here from elsewhere. The second, also aisleless

church has careful masonry and is devoted to St Paraskevi. As the date incorporated

above the entrance indicates, it was built in 1705. There are two layers of wall-paintings

in this church, with a scene of the Last Judgement on the west wall, and the Crucifixion,

in a second layer.

KARDAMENA (KARDAMAINA)

The road leading south-east from Antimachia passes the airport on the right, before

coming to Kardamena.

Kardamena is 26 km from Kos town , on the south-east coast of the island. It is a

summer resort with large hotel complexes, rooms for rent, sport facilities, a superb

sandy beach 6 km long, restaurants, bars, discos, all the features of an attractive tourist

center. It draws large numbers of summer visitors, who enjoy the sun and sea, fresh

fish and locally grown fruit and vegetables. There are plenty of pottery workshops at

Kardamena from which fine hand-made ceramics can be bought.

On a hill just outside Kardamena are preserved the remains of a castle, around which

the old settlement grew up. There are also the foundations of a Byzantine church in the

area, and the remains of a Hellenistic theatre and tomb. This is thought to have been the

site of the ancient city of Halassarna, which had a large temple dedicated to the god

Apollo. At Kardamena there are pottery workshops at which fine hand-made pottery

can be produced. The nearby island of Nisyros can be visited from the small harbor.

Plaka region

Backtracking to Antimachia to continue our tour of the island in the south-west part of

Kos. To the south of Antimachia, and to the right of the main road, is Plaka, a beautiful

site set deep amidst virgin nature, with verdant vegetation and abundant water.

It has been laid out as a picnic area, with wooden benches and tables that can be used

by day-trippers during their tour of the natural beauty spots of Kos Island.

KEFALOS (KEPHALOS)

After Antimachia and the Plaka region, the road goes on to Kefalos, crossing the

"handle", the narrowest part of the island, with Kefalos bay on the left. At this point, the

right fork in the road leads uphill to the village of Kefalos, where it turns left and follows the

coast to Agios Stefanos (Ayios Stephanos) and Kamari, the harbour of Kefalos.

Kefalos is at the south-west end of the island, 42 km from Kos town. The village of

Kefalos lies at the end of the main road that starts from Kos town and crosses the entire

island. The village stands a short distance from the sea on a hill with the picturesque

windmill of Papavasilis on the summit. The dense building and narrow streets give the

settlement the character of a typical island village. Kefalos lacts fertile soil, but enjoys

a healthy climate and produces choice thyme honey and dairy products.

The village of Kefalos has long traditions, a rich history and great archaeological interest,

since it was in this area that Astypalaia, tha ancient capital of Kos, was located. This was

the birthplace of the doctor Herakleides, son of Hippocrates, the father of medicine, and

also the philosopher Epicharmos and others.

In the village itself, it is worth visiting the traditional house of Kefalos, which serves as a

museum, housing typical items from the agricultural life of Kos Island. Kefalos was

protected by the castle of the same name, now completely destroyed, which was built at

the same period as those at Pyli and Antimachia.

KAMARI - AGIOS STEFANOS - LIMIONAS

About 1 km away is Kamari, the picturesque harbor of Kefalos, at which there are many

fishing boats, tavernas and restaurants. The region along the coast to the north-east, as

far as Agios Stefanos, is one of the most important on Kos Island. Here are to found the

superb beaches of Chrysi Akti, Paradeisos, Kambos and Agios Stefanos, with modern

hotels, organised beaches, and facilities for a wide range of water-sports.

This has been an important area since ancient times, as is evident from the Christian

churches of the 5th Century AD discovered there.

On the coast at Agios Stefanos, the archeologist's spade has brought to light remains

of a complex of two Early Christian basilicas dedicated to St Stephen, with fine mosaics

and columns. One of them was larger than the other, and they communicated by way

of a door. The complex was discovered in 1932 by Italian archeologists and later restored.

In the bay of Kefalos, opposite the basilicas of Agios Stefanos, lies the little island of

Kastri, with its picturesque church of Agios Nikolaos. The natural harbor of Limionas

lies 5 km to the north of Kefalos. With its entrance protected by the islet of Prasonisi,

Limionas offers a refuge to fishing boats.

PALATIA - ZINI

At Palatia, 2 km to the west of Kefalos, are preserved the remains of the ancient capital

of the island, Astypalaia, which was razed to the ground by a devastating earthquake. The

foundations of a small Doric temple devoted to the goddess Demeter have been discovered

here, as well as a Hellenistic theatre. The chapel of Panagia Palatiani is in this same area;

it stands on a hill near Palatia and enyoys a superb view. According to one view, it was

built on an ancient temple of Dionysos.

Beyond Palatia, in the direction of Zini, is Aspri Petra, a prehistoric cave that probably

served as a cult area devoted to rural deities from the Geometric period down to Roman

times. Finds from the Neolithic, Mycenaean and Geometric periods have been yielded

by excavations in the cave. The church of the Panagia Ziniotissa stands on the mountainside.

From the region of Palatia, a road leads to the chapel of Agios Ioannis Theologos, 5 km

away on the west coast of Kos. On this side of the island, there are also some pretty little

coves with sandy and pebble beaches.

The monastery of Agios Ioannis, which celebrates its feast day on the 29th of August,

is built in an idyllic setting 7 km to the south of Kefalos. At the southernmost point of Kos,

4 km to the south of Agios Ioannis, is a little church of Agios Mamas, with the islet of

Yiali to its east.

Hope you enjoyed the tour of the villages on Kos island !