Live Your Myth in Kastellorizo
Places to Visit
The Blue Cave
The Blue Cave is a natural phenomenon, much celebrated as an island attraction. It is much larger than the more famous cave in Capri, and at most time has easy access.
The Blue Cave is on the southeastern side of the island, twenty minutes by boat from the harbour. It is the largest and most beautiful of the caves in Greece. It is 75 meters long and 35 meters high. The entrance of the cave is comparatively low, but once inside, the cathedral-type roof and the stalactites create a unique spectacle. Take your swimsuit, once inside you can jump into the incredible blue water, for an experience that will stay with you forever.
The Plakes
The limestone rocky beach areas of the Plakes offer an alternative to the deep blue swimming areas of Kastellorizo. Here, the water is transparent, and shallow. Bring plenty of protection, and water. It is a wonderful spot for an alternative time at the beach. Access is with a sea taxi.
St. George Beach
Named after the small church on this tiny island, St George beach is a public area where you can spend a chilled day in a protected bay. Casual snacks and meals are available either at your umbrella chair, or in the restaurant. There is a fee to rent a beach chair and umbrella. Access is a five minute sea taxi ride from the main harbour.
Paleokastro
Paleokastro is an archaeological site. Paliokastro is the oldest and, perhaps, the most important monument of Kastellorizo. It is built over the ruins of an ancient Doric citadel on the west side of the island. It is an an ancient castle, with Byzantine, Knights Hospitallers‘ and modern Italian alterations. in addition to several cisterns, parts of the Hellenistic defensive wall with towers or flanking works have been preserved from the ancient complex. Some sections were rebuilt using the ancient building material in Byzantine times. Remarkable are the partly impressive large cisterns of the castle carved out of the limestone rock. You can take a taxi as the climb is steep. Or you can walk up either on the surfaced main road, or on an old track. Either gives amazing views, and once on the site, there is much to see. It is also an incredible location to watch the sunset.
Lycian Tomb
The Lycian Tomb on Kastellorizo dates from 4B.C. This is the only known Lycian tomb in Greece, and as with most of the others on the Turkish mainland, it is not known exactly when, for whom or by whom it was built. Although the decoration has long vanished, the structure is in very good condition.
Puzzle Museum
The Museum of Puzzles, the first in Greece, has the largest collection of puzzles in Greece and one of the largest in the world. It was founded by the mathematician Pantazis Houlis and has 4000 exhibits, many of which are his own inventions and constructions. It operates free during winter and summer and has positively surprised visitors of all ages, as well as a large number of Greek and foreign distinguished visitors who come to the island exclusively for the Puzzle Museum. Although there are only four other Puzzle Museums in other countries (covering all types of puzzles), the one in Kastellorizo is the only interactive one.
Website: www.kastellorizo.org/megisti/kastellorizo_net/
Phone: +30 6980865814
E-mail: museum@megisti.net
Restored Mosque Museum
The Kastellorizo’s only mosque on Nikolaou Savva Square (also known as Kavos Square) was built by Osman Agha in 1753 during the Ottoman occupation of the island (1523-1913). The mosque was restored as a museum. There is a wonderful 15 minute documentary on the modern history of Kastellorizo. It is scheduled at 12 noon each day (except Tuesday).
Folklore Museum
The Archaeological Museum of Kastellorizo is located in the district of “Kavos” and provides the story of Kastellorizo. It is housed in a two-storey building which is part of the medieval Castle of St. Nicholas, with stunning views from the ramparts. This building is the only remaining part of the Knight’s Castle, initially used by the Ottoman Turks as the governor’s headquarters and later by the French as a hospital. After World War II, the building remained abandoned, until it was converted into a museum in 1984.
The museum has exhibits of great value from different periods of time as well as objects of folk art. Among the exhibits are findings from excavations in different parts of the island as well as statues, Hellenistic inscriptions, tombstones, vases, lamps and various other objects. There are also stone anchors and amphorae, collected from the sea and the statue of a sponge diver, in his diving suit with all the necessary accessories. In another room, there is a small folk-art collection of traditional costumes, musical instruments, old photos, embroidery and jewelry, aiming to present the island’s history through time.
Instagram Pages
YouTube Documentaries
Books about Kastellorizo
- Πεζοπορικός Χάρτης – 344 Καστελλόριζο. Terrain Editions.
- Αρχαία Μεγίστη: Το ξεχασμενο Καστελλόριζο. Νόρμαν Άστον.
- ΚΑΣΤΕΛΛΟΡΙΖΟ – Εκεί που σταματάει ο χρόνος. Χρήστος Σιμάτος. Ελληνικό Ίδρυμα Ιστορικών Μελετών.
- Μικρό μου Καστελλόριζο. Νίκος Καρακώστας.
- ΚΑΣΤΕΛΛΟΡΙΖΟ – Διαχρονικός ακρίτας του ελληνισμού. Καθημερινή.