Photos
Nisyros Island
We visited this marvellous small volcanic island in July 2007 and would like to share our experience and views with you. The following assessment is based upon our own experiences and therefore description given here necessarily contains an element of subjective opinion, which may not reflect your own impressions on another occasion.
A Bit of History
If you are curious how this tiny, lovely island was formed you will certainly be interested to read this paragraph. There are two main theories: the first is described in Greek mythology, second is based on scientific facts. According to Greek mythology, the gods of the most ancient religions of the Greeks were the giants - sons of heaven and earth. Those giants once wrestled with the Olympian gods who lived on Olympus and were defeated by them. After the fight, the giant Polyvotos was chased away and found refuge on Kos. Poseidon / Neptune - the god of the sea was very angry with Polyvotos broke off a portion of the island and hurled it at him. It crushed the giant and according to mythology, in this way Nisyros Island was created. The scientific theory indicates that the island was formed by its separation from Kos, which occurred during an earthquake.
To do and see
The most impressive attraction on the island is the crater of the extinct volcano Polyvotis which occupies a major part of the island. You will feel and see the mud which boils and bubbles under your feet. Beside the crater you may read warning: “Gasses and fluids are very hot (100 degrees Celsius - 212 Fahrenheit) and are corrosive! Do not come into contact with them! Do not move very close to active vents! The ground is unstable and can collapse under your weight!”. It is a shame that this sign is not clearly shown beside the crater as we were walking on it and were not aware of the danger of the ground collapsing! Our advice is - watch where you are going!
Mandraki - beautiful capital of the island is ideal for a peaceful holiday. You will feel the serene atmosphere and enjoy the view of the small white houses and narrow streets. We recommend that you to climb 142 steps to the monastery for a great view of the town. In the afternoon you may have a lunch in one of the typical Greek taverns perched on the edge of the sea.
Published on 29th November 2009
By Arek Zasowski
Photographs by Viola and Arek Zasowski
Few points worth considering
If you are planning only a short visit we would suggest that you take a day trip from Kos. The tickets you can buy from one of the travel agents in Kefalos or Kos Town. If you buy the excursion in the local office, you will probably get it cheaper than from the tour operator. The trip price usually includes a bus trip to the volcano.
In Mandraki is an ATM operated by the Cooperative Bank of Dodecanese.
Shopping - we recommend that you visit shops located in the main narrow lane from the marina. They sell a variety of white statues and plenty of other souvenirs. The best thing is that these are a lot cheaper than on Kos.
Photography - If you like photography and would like to have a professional photo taken, we suggest that you visit the art photographer Artin Caracasian’s Art Gallery. He specializes in taking beautiful photos of the island and sale these in his gallery. If you are lucky enough (like Viola was) he may even take a couple of shots for free! His gallery is located in the main lane from the marina, just beside a sandy beach.
If your time is not restricted we strongly recommend that you to stay for a couple of days to explore all the beauty the island has to offer.
