Chora is none otherthan the ancient Kalymnos capital. We find it about threekilometers from Pothia even if in fact they are one extension of theother.

Purposely built in avalley far from the sea to ensure that the inhabitants could havetime to organize themselves during the attacks of pirates and varioususurpers of ancient times, it remained inhabited until 1812 when thedanger of pirate raids ceased to move and give life to the currentPothia.

Of note is the Chora castle also called the Great Castle or Paleochora one of the mainattractions of Kalymnos. On a steep mountain massif at a height of255 meters above sea level where visibility was 360 degrees, it wasbegun in the 11th century by the Byzantines to counter the menacingTzachas the Emir of Smyrna who raided the easternAegean island. Powerful walls surrounded the whole area for 30,000 squaremeters and could accommodate up to 1500 inhabitants. However humanactivity in the area dates back to prehistoric times. In 1495 withthe arrival of the Knights of St. John who dominated the wholeDodecanese from 1309 to 1522, it was enlarged and assumed its currentform. Following the violent earthquake of 1492, the Grand MasterPierre D’Aubusson decided to further strengthen it and finally, atthe beginning of the 16th century, a polygonal tower for firearms wasbuilt in the center of the east wall.

Inside there are thedwellings of the inhabitants with a rectangular plan one attached tothe other for reasons of space with fireplaces for preparing food andtanks for collecting rainwater, two large common cisterns, two stonemills for pressing of the olives and for daily needs and ten verywell preserved churches where you can see wall paintings dating backto the 15th and 16th centuries. Outside right in the middle of thewestbound wall of the gun towers.

In addition to the GreatCastle, Chrisocheria Castle is also located in the Chora. In astrategic point that allowed the Calimni to monitor both Pothia andthe Chora, it was also built in the Knights of St. John periodas the residence of the governor of the Kalymnos, Kos,Leros and Nisyros island. Inside there are some buildings still in modestcondition, a mineral deposit and two churches, one dedicated to St. George and the older one dedicated to the Madonna. It was abandonedin the 15th century as it was too small to protect the entirepopulation in the event of an attack. Nearby the three stonewindmills identifying Kalymnos built on top of the hill and visiblefrom the port.

Do not miss the firstmetropolis of Kalymnos, the Panagia Haritomeni church which housesa sumptuous golden temple, as well as the church of Christ of Jerusalem, ancient protector of the island erected on the ruins of atemple dedicated to Apollo Diliou and finally, the  Agia Sofia church also built with the remains of the ruins of the DelioApollo temple .

A succession ofarchaeological finds that determine the strong identity of the Kalymnos island where you can dive into the past and enjoy endlesspanoramas, for this alone it deserves to be included in the list ofthings to do and see in Kalymnos.