Dodecanese
Discover the Dodecanese islands
The Dodecanese is located at the northeastern edge of the Aegean Sea and constitutes another popular tourist destination. The islands of the Dodecanese Islands offer great destinations for enjoyable holidays.
The Islands of Rhodes, Kos, Symi, and Karpathos are among the largest and most famous islands of the Dodecanese, which attract a large number of visitors in the summer. With beautiful beaches and interesting sights to visit, the islands offer something special to their guests.
The Dodecanese combines natural beauty with a remarkable history and offers the visitor unique touristic scenery as well as many options for quiet or intense holidays.
Exploring the Dodecanese Islands in Greece
Some 163 islands are scattered in the South Aegean Sea, called Dodekanisa in Greek, which means “twelve islands”, deriving their name from the group of the twelve larger ones among them (the majority of the smaller ones are inhabited).
Situated in the eastern Aegean Sea is the largest of the islands both in land area and population, Rhodes, famous historically for the Colossus of Rhodes, one of the Seven Wonders of the World. It was a giant bronze statue that once stood in the harbor, but was destroyed in an earthquake in 224 BC. No trace of it remains today. Rhodes is one of the most popular tourist destinations worldwide due to its splendid natural beauties and rich history, combined with an excellent climate boasting the highest yearly average of sunny days in Europe. The walled medieval Old Town of the City of Rhodes has been declared a World Heritage Site, with wonderful attractions like the Palace of the Grand Masters and the Governor’s Palace. Other historical sites on the island are the Acropolis of Lindos, the Acropolis of Rhodes and the Temple of Apollo.
The birthplace of the ancient physician Hippocrates, the Father of Medicine, is the island of Kos, the second largest of the Dodecanese, only 4 kilometers away off the coast of Turkey. It is an island gifted with golden beaches, plenty of archaeological monuments and a landscape ideal for biking, hiking or mountain climbing. The main town and port of the island, also called Kos, is also the tourist and cultural center, with a medieval fortress at the entrance to its harbor. In the center of the town is the ancient Plane Tree of Hippocrates, a sort of temple where the physician is traditionally supposed to have taught. Near the city are the ruins of Asklepieion, where Hippocrates was taught medicine.
The third most important island of the group is Patmos, the sacred ‘Island of the Revelation’ (Apocalypse in Greek). It is here where John the Apostle, while in exile, had his majestic visions, which were recorded in the Christian scriptural Book of Revelation in the New Testament. The Cave of the Apocalypse where Saint John had his Revelation, along with Chora, the island’s medieval capital city, have been declared World Heritage Sites by Unesco. Chora is built on the top of a cliff around an impressive fortress protecting the Monastery of Saint John the Theologian, founded in 1088, with spectacular panoramic views to the sea and the island’s main port and center of trade, Skala. Patmos is a destination for Christian pilgrimage boasting a multitude of smaller and larger churches and monasteries and is worth visiting not only during summer time due to its marvelous natural scenery but also during the Greek Orthodox Easter, due to its unique religious character.
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The islands of the Dodecanese
The Dodecanese is a complex of islands with unique beauty and great history that every visitor falls in love with. Many of the islands keep their traditions intact, so even today, one can meet women on the street dressed in their local costumes.
The Dodecanese islands are famous for its endless sandy beaches with the crystal clear waters of the sea. The beaches of the Dodecanese are among the cleanest and most beautiful in Greece. Although the Dodecanese is considered an ideal destination for cosmopolitan holidays, there are areas where you can enjoy the tranquility.
During your visit to the Dodecanese islands, you will have the chance to admire the unique scenery of nature that successfully combines the rich and colorful vegetation with the relaxing blue sky and the sea.
Rhodes is the capital of the Dodecanese, which offers the visitor relaxation, but at the same time an intense cosmopolitan life for those who want it.
Kos Island is known not only for its fantastic sandy beaches but also for the hometown of Hippocrates, the father of medicine.
Another island worth exploring and exploring is Kalymnos, rich in history and many sights.
The Dodecanese is here and waiting for you. They are ready to embrace you and offer you unique vacation opportunities that will be truly unforgettable.