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Kos Island - Historical Sites
Historical sites in Kos Town - Kos Island
The Castle - A must see place - Admission: 3 Euros (July 2007),
» Location: Kos Town, town centre, opposite the port,
» How to get there: On foot from town centre,
» History: The castle was built in the 14th century by the Knights of the Order of St. John to protect the town and the entire island.
Hippocrates Plane Tree - Rest in the shade - Admission: Free (July 2007),
» Location: Kos Town, town centre, beside the main entrance to the castle,
» How to get there: On foot from Kos Town centre,
» History: The oldest tree in Europe. According to the legend, Hippocrates taught his students under this tree abut two and a half thousand years ago. Nowadays, it has became a symbol of the Father of Medicine.
The Ancient Town - Feel the history, go back in time - Admission: Free (July 2007),
» Location: Kos Town - town centre,
» How to get there: On foot from town centre,
» History: in the Ancient Town the most important ruins are: the Ancient City Wall built in the 4th century BC, Sanctuary of the 3rd century BC, several well preserved mosaics, the gallery (3rd and 4th century BC), the Large Basilica and the Pandimos Aphrodite Sanctuary.
The Western Excavation - Feel the history, go back in time - Admission: Free (July 2007),
» Location: Kos Town, Gregoriou E’ Street, 10 min walk from town centre,
» How to get there: On foot from Kos Town centre, by car - lots of free parking space available nearby,
» History: Due to the fact that the area in the western suburbs of the town was not suitable for building construction and is deserted nowadays, we can see the archaeological ruins in a very good state of preservation. Among many of 4th and 3rd century BC monuments the most important ruins are: The Early Christian Basilica. The Xystos - an ancient gymnastic ground - 17 of a possible 81 pillars remain from a roof stretched to the wall nearby covering part of the gymnastic ground. Beside the Xystos a swimming pool was also constructed in Roman times.
The Western Public Baths built by the Romans. Very interesting is the fact that this sophisticated construction was heated by steam which ‘travelled’ in pipes under the floor.
The foundations of a building of the 3rd century BC with a large mosaic of 2nd century AD showing battles between men and beasts - the most beautiful mosaic on the island.
Roman Odeum - Feel the history, go back in time - Admission: Free (July 2007),
» Location: Kos Town, Gregoriou E’ Street, 10 min walk from town centre,
» How to get there: On foot from Kos Town centre, by car - lots of free parking space available nearby,
» History: The Odeum was constructed in the 2nd century AD in the southwest quarter of the Roman city, with its aristocratic urban villas, to the south on the processional thoroughfare, the Decumanus Maximus. The monument was damaged by an earthquake in AD 142 and was repaired during the reign of Emperor Antoninus Pius (AD 137-161). The Odeum was the venue for the public sessions of the senate as well as for music contests. It is possible that competitions of encomia for the Roman emperors were held here on the occasion of the festival of the Great Asklepia, when musicians and poets from Greece and Asia gathered on the island of Kos. The building, which measured 31.9 x 29.9 m was 12 m high, was roofed in antiquity and could accommodate 750 spectators. It was excavated and restored during Italian occupation. In its ruins an entire ‘museum’ of statues and a considerable number of inscriptions were found.
Published on 9th December 2009
By Arek Zasowski
Photographs by Viola and Arek Zasowski
Historical sites on the island:
Asklepieion / Asclipieon - sacred hospital - Go back in time! A must see place - Admission: 4 Euros (July 2007),
» Location: The Asklepieion (4th century BC) is located about 15 minutes drive from Kos Town, around 1.4 km from Platani village. The Asklepieion is approached by 400 m tarmac road with cypress trees on both sides.
» How to get there: By car or bus,
» History: The Asklepieion on Kos is one of three hundred sacred hospitals of Ancient Greece. The Asklepia means the sacred hospitals where the methods of Asclepius (Greek god of medicine) were applied for the treatment of patients (similarity to present day sanatoria is noticeable). The treatments were carried out by priests who passed the secrets revealed to them by gods from father to son. Before the patient’s examination and the treatment a series of procedures were carried out. Patients had to adapt their soul and body to the immediate environment while undergoing pure medicine, aqua therapy, hypnosis, and making some the sacrifices. These methods continued until Hippocrates introduced scientific methods of medicine. This is a truly magnificent place, beautifully situated on a hill with a lovely view surrounded by the forest.
Agios Stephanos - Ruins of the basilicas - Touch the history, relax in the sea - Admission: Free (July 2007),
» Location: 15 minutes walk from Kamari Marina,
» How to get there: On foot from Kamari Marina or Kefalos along the beautiful beach,
» History: Beautifully located ancient remains of a complex of two Early Christian basilicas dedicated to St Stephen, with fine mosaics and columns.
Castle of Antimahia - Breathtaking view - Admission: Free (July 2007),
» Location: Middle of the Island (3 km from Andimachia). If you drive from Kefalos you need to pass Andimachia, turn right from the main road (just after military barracks) and follow the signs. If you are coming from Kos Town turn left from the main road (just before the military barracks) and follow the signs.
» How to get there: By car or tour bus only,
» History: The castle built in Venetians times was a target of Turkish attacks. (In 1302 Kos became a protectorate of Venice and in 1314 it passed into hands of the Order of the Knights of Saint John of Rhodes). The castle consist two old churches and the ruins of houses as it also offered protection from pirate raids.
