Page 24 - BLISS-2024
P. 24

BLISS_Kos island














                                                                                                                                                                            KOS IS A RARE ARTEFACT MEANT TO STUN THOSE IN
                                                                                                                                                                             LOVE WITH THE ART OF TRAVELLING. LEAN IN AND
                                                                                                                                                                           LISTEN TO THE WHISPERS OF AN ISLAND THAT’S BOTH
                                                                                                                                                                                               ANCIENT AND YOUNG.





                                                                                                                                                                         of Kos: the municipal market, the club, and the   Kos is an island where diversity is also evident in
                                                                                                                                                                         Archaeological Museum, which was built in 1935.   the natural environment. Salt ponds, wetlands, pine
                                                                                                                                                                         Do not neglect to honour the latter with a visit. It   forests, plane and eucalyptus trees, volcanic hot
                                                                                                                                                                         is home to an excellent collection, which includes   springs, and an easy hiking mountain 846 metres
                                                                                                                                                                         prehistoric finds, sculptures, and mosaic floors   high, make up a rich and fascinating destination
                                                                                                                                                                         from the Roman buildings of the ancient city.   that is definitely worth exploring. Apart from the
                                                                                                                                                                         Coming out of the museum, let your gaze glimpse   easily accessible, well- maintained trails, a lovely
                                                                                                                                                                         the edge of the square, where the Deftar Mosque   bonus is that one can combine hiking with visiting
                                                                                                                                                                         keeps the secrets of a different version of Kos.  sites of both natural and historical interest. The
                                                                                                                                                                         In the historical centre, we will become time   scenery is undeniably fascinating: the rich flora and
                                                                                                                                                                         travellers. To begin with, we will take our time   fauna, the picturesque mountain villages, and the
                                                                                                                                                                         wandering through the market place.  Onwards   diverse architecture are just some of the delightful
                                                                                                                                                                         to the Doric Hellenistic temple, where we will   touches of the land. Taking a stroll through the
                                                                                                                                                                         admire the altar of Dionysus, the port arcade,   Plaka Forest in Antimachia, after visiting one of
                                                                                                                                                                         and the sanctuary of Hercules. We will tour the   the most famous traditional settlements of Kos
                                                                                                                                                                         remains of the northern side of the wall, as well as   and of all the Dodecanese, first inhabited at the
                                                                                                                                                                         the Roman baths, and let our imagination recreate   end of the Neolithic era, you will find yourself
                                                                                                                                                                         the Roman Conservatory and the luxurious villas   admiring dozens of exotic peacocks and cats
                                                                                                                                                                         with their rich mosaic floors.       living in harmony. And if you wish for serenity,
                                                                                                                                                                         We will walk through Platanos Square- or “Loggia   then the forest of Panagia Tsoukalaria, on the
                                                                                                                                                                         Square”- and stop at the Loggia Mosque to observe   outskirts of the island, is just the place to catch
                                                                                                                                                                         the embedded pieces of ancient and medieval   your breath and rest.
                                                                                                                                                                         monuments that can be seen in its walls. Now, it   One of the most famous hiking trails is the one in
                                                                                                                                                                         is time to rest in the shadow of Hippocrates’ plane   Paleo Pyli. Walking through the forest, this trail
                                                                                                                                                                         tree. Kos was considered the ultimate healing   is located about three kilometres southeast of
                                                                                                                                                                         centre of the ancient world and it was there that   Pyli, at an altitude of 300 metres, where you will
                                                                                                                                                                         Hippocrates, the most famous physician of ancient   find the ruins of a medieval fortified Byzantine
                                                                                                                                                                         Greece, founded his medical school.  settlement - as well as the castle of the same name
                                                                                                                                                                         Kos, named after the daughter of the mythical   (Paleo Pyli) - both built in the 11th century.
                                                                                                                                                                         King Merops, is often described as an open-  Up for one-of-a-kind, picturesque architecture?
                                                                                                                                                                         air museum, and rightly so. Offering dozens of   14 kilometres from the town of Kos lies the most
                                                                                                                                                                         outdoor archaeological sites and many cultural   beautiful settlement of the island. Consisting of
                                                                                                                                                                         events throughout the year, the homeland of   five villages in total (Lagoudi, Evaggelistria - or
                                                                                                                                                                         the “father of medicine” Hippocrates (460-377   Pera Geytonia - Asomatos, Agios Dimitrios - or
                                                                                                                                                                         BC), is also home to the ancient Asclepieion. At   Haichoutes - and Zia), this architectural ensemble
                                                                                                                                                                         this most emblematic monument that survives   based on the agricultural economy of the 19th and
                                                                                                                                                                                                              early 20th century is unique in the Dodecanese.
                                                                                                                                                                         to this day, the inspirer of the Hippocratic Oath
                                                                                                                                   ISTOCK BY GETTY IMAGES                the Asclepieion of Kos was a religious sanctuary   Dikeos. Formerly known as Oromedon, Orion,
                              The town’s architectural diversity echoes with the history of the land. Alongside the colonial-style Italian buildings                     practiced and taught his medicine. Contributing   Zia is also the starting point for an epic hiking
                           there are low white island houses, Muslim mosques, knights’ walls, apartment blocks and restored ancient public buildings.                    to the promotion of Hippocrates’ philosophy,   trail, the one that leads to the top of Mount
                                                                                                                                                                         dedicated to the god Asclepius (ancient Greek
                                                                                                                                                                                                              or Dikeon, the highest mountain in Kos, with an
                                                                                                                                                                                                              altitude of 846 metres, features a majestic cross
                                                                                                                                                                         god of medicine and son of Apollo).

                                                                    24                                                                                                                                      25
   19   20   21   22   23   24   25   26   27   28   29