Karpathos has places of rare and wild beauty, settlements of impressive architecture and venerable tradition, wealth of ruins from all the ages of its long history. Visit Karpathos and live the unique experience of exploring an island that looks like a huge outdoor archaeological and folk museum!
Natural landscapes
The route from Spoa to Olympos (or Elympos, as the locals call it) looks like it is moving over the backbone of Karpathos and the wild beauty of the landscape behind Mount Kimaras creates a unique feeling to the visitor. On the left, the dirt roads lead to the agricultural suburbs of Ahamandia, Argoni, Pei with their awesome cliffs. On the right, difficult dirt tracks descend to the pebbled beaches of Agnondia, Agios Minas, Natis and Phorocli.
Around Olympos, gray mountains with sharp tops, towards which windmills are climbing. The landscape will surely enchant you!
For a wonderful, panoramic view, visit the village of Othos. Othos is often lost in the clouds, as it is the tallest village of Karpathos at 510 meters altitude. This makes its amphitheatrically built homes enjoy the best panoramic view.
Archaeological Sites – Monuments
At the entrance of the harbor there is “Vounos“, a rock of 23 meters high, with relics of the ancient acropolis, while on the main road to Aperi, in the position “Afoti”, there are ruins (some columns and stone reliefs) of the ancient Fotini, the early Christian basilica of 5th-6th century. Findings that have been revealed prove that the Temple was built at the site of the Dioscourus sanctuary.
In the cave of Poseidon, at the site of “Myloi”, there is a monumental carved tomb or sanctuary believed to have been dedicated to the goddess Aphrodite.
16 kilometers southwest of Pigadia, you will meet Arkasa, with the impressive landscape and the small peninsula of the Acropolis spreading forward, while rocks rise.
It is worth walking to Palaiokastro as the view is stunning, while you will see remnants from antiquity to Venetian domination and Ottoman domination. The area seems to have been inhabited ever since the Prehistoric Era, as the monuments testify.
In the scenic fishing village of Finiki, just one kilometer from Arkasa, you will see a bronze ship dedicated to the heroes of the Resistance against the Germans.
In the seaside village of Lefkos and specifically in Shokastro, there are remains of Byzantine and medieval times.
In Volada (ten kilometers from Pigadia) you will find the ruins of three castles built in three different seasons.
Finally, it is worth visiting:
Museums
At Pigadia you can visit the Archaeological Museum. It is also worth visiting the Folklore Museum of Menetes, the Ecclesiastical, Historical and Folklore Museum of Arkasa and the Folklore Museum of Othos, aiming to present to the visitor the historical route of the place and to promote the customs and traditions of the island.
Churches & Monasteries
Aperi, built at a height of 320 meters, was the old capital of the island and is the seat of the Metropolitan Bishop of Karpathos and Kasos, the smallest Metropolitan Bishop seat throughout Greece.
Two kilometers outside of Pigadia, is the church of Agia Kyriaki, built in rock and with a wonderful view.
Built on a hill is Menetes village with the tidy houses and the church of the Assumption of the Virgin, of the 19th century, considered to be miraculous. In the same area, it is also worth visiting the church of St. Mamma.
In the area of Arkasa, where the chapel of Agia Sophia is located, there was an Early Christian basilica of the 4th-6th century, relics of which are still preserved. The church of Agia Anastasia is of the 5th century and has magnificent mosaics.
Some more churches that you should definitely visit are:
Two kilometers after Aperi you will also find the village of Kira Panagia with the church of the same name. An awesome rocky wall, the pebbles and the dome of the church of Kira Panagia, make up one of the most characteristic and prominent images of Karpathos.
Finally, the following monasteries are famous:
