Kalymnos island Greece

Kalymnos is located in the southeastern region of Greece, near the beautiful Aegean Sea. It belongs to the Dodecanese Island group, and is widely known as the Spongefishers’ Island, due to the large number of sponge fishers located on the island. Kalymnos’ small neighboring island, Telendos, was once part of Kalymnos, but a major earthquake in 554 AD split the two, and they are now separated by a strip of water.

Pothia is Kalymnos’ capital and features the Italianate Architecture, which is a silver domed cathedral dedicated to Jesus. The Churches of Aghios nikolaos and Aghios Stefanos, as well as the Monastery of St. Savas, sit perched on a hill overlooking the town below. Pothia’s main population lives in town during the winter, and moves to various holiday resorts on the island during the summer. The most popular tourist attraction is massouri, which holds many hotels and lively night life. Pserimos, a small island very near Pothia offers serenity and beautiful beaches. Kalymnos is world renowned for its limestone cliffs and many caves, offering a wonderful destination for rock climbers. 

Beautiful brightly colored houses are built surrounding the port and arranged on hillsides down to the fishing boats below. 

Quiet villages abound on Kalymnos, such as Vathi, which is set in a valley filled with citrus trees, and Emborios on the north side of the island. On a small road to Panormos, you can see the remains of a three aisled basilica that was dedicated to Christ of Jerusalem, and was erected in the 6th century, on the site of an ancient temple that was the worshipping place for Delian Apollo. 

In Pera Kastro, called the Castle of the Golden Hands, you can view the chapel which holds an icon of the Virgin, whose hands are covered with gold leaves. There are also many caves to be discovered on Kalymnos. Skalies is a cave on the north side of Kalymnos, where visitors are not allowed, however, by boat you can reach Trypas, on the south side of the island, and visitors are allowed here.

Therma contains therapeutic springs and bathing houses and offers trained personnel for assistance into the springs. There are also beautiful beaches to be visited on Kalymnos, such as Massouri, Mirties, and Vlyhadia.