1. Karpathos Island Choose to be Happy!!! Unmatched Beauty and
Hospitality karpathosisland
2. Region: South Aegean - Dodecanese Complex Villages:10
Population: 7000 Area: 324.1 km2 Climate: Mediterranean Summer
Sunshine: 13 hours per day Summer Average Temperature:29 C
Karpathos Island At A Glance
3. The Alluring Remoteness of Karpathos A Greek island with
rich culture and traditions, that is located at the south- eastern
region of the Aegean Sea and is part of the Dodecanese clus- ter of
islands. The island is located half way between the neighboring is-
lands of Rhodes and Crete. The in- comparable beauty and
hospitality of Karpathos can be found nowhere else in Greece.
Despite the fact that the island is beautiful and unspoiled and
boasts secluded beaches, it still re- mains untouched by mass
tourism.
4. One particular feature which characterizes Karpathos, is the
mountainous terrain and the blue bays. It is very easy to explore
the islands beaches and villages due to its size and low population
density that make you feel as if you have the place all to your
self.The southern part of the island is particularly popular among
adrenaline junk- ies and every summer its in the spotlight during
the internation- al speedsurfing competition. Strong winds blow
over the tur- quoise waves making their way up to the mountainous
northern part of the island, with its weath- ered sugarloaf houses
that are centuries-old. When you reach the amazing mountain village
of Olympos in search of what being Greek genuinely means, you will
be rewarded with fresh delights made in a traditional oven. The
fact that the women of the vil- lage still dress in their
tradition- al outfits and have retained their traditional way of
life is a distinc- tive trait of Olympos. The relaxed lifestyle of
the island makes it a favored destination particularly by people
who seek peace and tranquility. Nevertheless, Karpa- thos is also
the perfect destina- tion for everyone, from sun and nature lovers
to adventurers and sports enthusiasts. So, whether you seek
serenity or passion, visit Karpathos. This island has something for
everyone. Variety, contrast and harmony of lines, volumes and
colors make up the incomparable charm of Karpathos which is
characterized as one of the most beautiful islands of Greece. The
women of the village of Olympos still dress in their traditional
outfits every day, show- casing a unique example of tradi- tional
village life that can no longer be seen anywhere else in Greece.
Best-kept secret Greek Island
5. Karpathos is located in the eastern Mediterranean 47 km
southwest of the island of Rhodes. The island cov- ers an area of
324.1 km2, with a coast- line of 160 km. The new airport was built
in 2007 and handled around 90000 passengers in 2012. The big- gest
ports of the island are located at Pigadia, namely the capital, in
the southeast, and at Diafani, in the northeast. Karpathos is
blessed with an abundance of streams, sandy and shingle beaches,
pine forests, ol- ive groves, rocky caves (that pro- vide shelter
for the Mediterranean monk seal) and exquisite moun- tainous
landscapes The landscape of the island is unique and varied at the
same time; sandy and shin- gle beaches, pine forests, olive groves
and rocky caves. There are ten villages on the island. The villages
of Menetes, Arkassa, Aperi, Volada, Othos and Pyles are located at
the southern part of Karpa- thos, where the capital of the island
is also situated. Messochori and Spoa are located at the centre of
the is- land and Olympos and Diafani at the north. Surrounded by
the seductive Aegean Sea...
6. There are manyhidden delightswaiting to be discovered by
those seeking to explore this won- derful island. In the southeast
part you can find Pigadia (official name Karpathos), which is the
capital and main port of the island. The scattered picturesque
whitewashed villages, the breathtak- ing landscapes of the island
and the uninhabited islet of Saria, are a few of those delights
which will make any holiday a truly unique and memorable
experience. The old village of Olympos is a living museum of
architecture, linguistics and musicology, where time seems to be
standing still. The au- Surrounded by the temperamental Aegean
Sea... Explore the magnificent island of Karpathos and relish an
unforgettable experience!! thenticity of the villages, the warm
hospitality, the respect for traditions and customs as well as the
traditional architecture and decoration of the houses, hold the
island together and its traditions are preserved through various
local cultural events.
7. Devotion to preserving ancient customs and rich traditions
has made this island truly remarkable...... Old customs and
traditions are still alive in Karpathos and play an important role
in eve- ryday life. Olympos, in particular, is the perfect example
of a village which has cherished the cultural uniqueness of
Karpathos. The wedding rituals play an important role here and the
wedding festivities last 3 days after the ceremony. What really
distinguishes this island, is the warm hospitality which is shown
at various events and occasions. The cen- turies-old 75 windmills
of the village are also part of the history of Olympos. They were
once important for the production of flour for the whole community.
Four of them are still in use today (pictured below) grinding wheat
and barley which are used to make the bread of the village.
8. Karpathos offers some of the finest beaches in the
Mediterranean. Even during high season you can discover plenty
secluded coves. The crystal clear blue waters and the lush veg-
etation create the best conditions for anyone wishing to explore
pristine places like these. The islands shingle beaches with a view
of the pine clad mountains, can be found mainly on the east coast.
The sandy beaches are located at the west side of Karpathos. There
are also beautiful bays on Saria, the small neighboring island to
the north, which is accessible from Pigadia and Diafani by boat.
However, the most famous bay of Karpathos is Apella, which was
declared the most beautiful in Europe for the year 2003.
Crystalline waters and endless bays....
9. Here every nature-related de- sire is satisfied as the
island has to offer a renowned windsurf- ing area, mountain bike
trails, perfect swimming and snorke- ling conditions and hiking
trails of varying difficulty.
10. Hikers are particularly enchanted by Karpa- thos, eager to
explore the trails that seem to have unraveled across the island
like unruly yarn. About 155 miles of hiking paths can be found on
the map, but there are at least another 155 miles of uncharted
trails. unique beauty, history,cultural, and arche- ological
attractions, offers Scuba Divers a Dive Trip that is unequaled
anywhere in the world
11. Archaeological findings prove that the island has been
inhab- ited since the Neolithic Period... The island prospered
during the Clas- sical period and it was mentioned in the works of
Homer, Virgil, Pliny and Strabo. The Karpathians allied themselves
with Sparta during the Peloponnesian War and were annexed by
Rhodes. Then came the Romans, the Byzantines, the Ot- tomans, the
Italians and finally the island was united with Greece along with
the rest of the Dodecanese in 1948. Nowa- days, many people from
different ethnic backgrounds live on the island. Karpathos,
however, preserves its traditions. The vil- lages near the
coastline do not conform to tradition zealously; the mountain
villages, on the other hand, are famous for stick- ing to their
traditions. This means that the residents of these villages dress
and speak almost in the same way that their ances- tors did 200
years ago. And even though the people of Karpathos are an
interesting mix that makes the island unique, tradi- tion remains
the quality that unites them and makes life on the island
fascinating.
12. Karpathos, an island sculpted by water and wind, is also
home to a large number of plants, animals and birds. Migratory
birds make a short stop here on their long journey to Africa, while
the Mediterranean monk seal (also called Monachus Monachus) has
found shelter in the surrounding, crystal clear waters of the
island. With a little luck you can see dolphins during a boat trip
or a sea hawk hunting for fish. The rug- ged natural charm of the
island is characterized by scattered and worth protecting pine
forests on steep mountain slopes and lonely, old trails leading to
secluded areas. Karpathos is part of the NATURA 2000 Network
www.fdkarpathos.gr
13. Kali oreksi! Enjoy your meal! Even the ancient gods of
Greek mythology appre- ciated the distinctive spices and flavors.
If someone really wants to know and under- stand foreign countries
and people, there is no better way to do so, than taste their lo-
cal cuisine, as food is also a crucial part of their respec- tive
culture and history. Greek passion can also be felt in a culinary
way through seafood, certain herbs and seasonal ingredients.
Generous and true to the motto Live the day and celebrate it,
Karpa- thos offers its visitors a taste of its delicious local
cuisine. In every Karpathian village, from Olympos and Volada to
Arkasa and Finiki, the origi- nal recipes have been passed down
from one generation to the next and preserved to this day. That
alone makes the trip worthwhile!
