One of the main attractions of thebeautiful Kalymnos Island is undoubtedly the village and the Fjord of Vathy, a deep bay surrounded by steep cliffs that is very reminiscentof a typical Norwegian fjord.
We find it to the south on theeast side less than fifteen kilometers from the capital Pothia. Alarge valley that starts from Rina where the port is located up tothe area of Stimenia, the most fruitful of Kalymnos where varioustypes of citrus fruits are grown and where aromatic herbs growspontaneously everywhere. Just at the end of so many good things,there is the village and the fjord. Here time seems to have almoststopped, a handful of houses, some excellent taverns where you cantaste fresh fish cooked according to ancient recipes and a small portwhich is however of enormous importance given the multitude ofvisitors it attracts every year.
In the middle of an arid andmountainous area, between high cliffs covered with some shrubs andwhere happy goats climb to find particular plants, the fjord extends,a beautiful stretch of sea with clean waters and crazy colours. Bysea, before arriving at the port, you can admire a wonderful lagooncalled "Blue Lagoon" for the particular color that goesfrom turquoise to emerald to the characteristic blue that only theAegean has. Taking a bath in this little corner of Eden is worth thetime it takes to reach it. On the opposite side instead of the bluelagoon, another rock spur where a solitary swing hanging sheer abovethe sea can give you an experience that is hard to forget inlife.
Still from the sea towards Vathy, on your left you willnotice a sort of cave dug right in the middle of the mountain with atree shaped by the wind and the salt. This is the Daskalio Cave also called "Secret School" which is accessed by a staircasecarved into the rock. Its dating dates back to the Neolithic periodand inside it which measures 25x12 meters ceramic tools from theMinoan era were found, thus giving the certainty of human presencesince ancient times. This mythical place with a fascinating historyis said to have been used by the island's priests who gatheredchildren in this secret room during the period of Ottoman occupationto pass on to the new generations the Greek language and the cultureof the Orthodox religion, both banned by the Turks who instead wantedto spread their customs. Thanks to these small shelters, theinhabitants of Kalymnos (but they are also found throughout Greece),have managed to preserve the uses, customs and traditions of theirland.
Just after the Fiord of Vathy you can find delightfulcoves with sandy shores of small pebbles which, if you are lucky,will be exclusively yours since to reach them you must necessarilyhave a boat, but don't worry, taxi boats are never lacking inGreece!
Taking the road that reaches Vathy from Pothia, youcross an area of splendid landscapes with glimpses of the greatcountryside and views overlooking the sea. On your pilgrimage to thispart of Kalymnos you can take the opportunity to admire the earlyChristian settlement of Rina, some Byzantine temples dedicated to theAssumption of the Virgin and the stupendous church of Panagia Kirikos which preserves frescoes dating back to the 11th-14th century, uniquein their kind and still very well preserved.
Do not miss toreach Profitis Elias the highest place of Kalymnos (in this regard weinvite you to read the interesting story of Profitis Elias on thissite https://www.meraviglioseisolegreche.com/blog/curiosita/grecia- legend-prophet-elias.aspx) where you can enjoy breathtaking views.Then go also to the villages of Stimenia and Platanos where there isa huge ancient tree since both countries in ancient times were themost populated part of the island while nowadays they are almostdeserted and from where you can make beautiful trekking routes in thewhich you will find archaeological sites such as Kastella right atthe foot of the mountain near Metochi'. Finally, a visit to theAcropolis of Embola and the Basilica of Taxiarchi is a must, astupendous church dating back to the early Christian period aroundwhich a legend revolves that speaks of a child kidnapped during theOttoman domination who became Pasha as an adult, returned to hisisland where he met his father and in memory of his childhood hebuilt the Basilica.
There are two ways to reach Vathy, thefirst by land making a fantastic journey up and down the mountains ofKalymnos following the road signs, or by sea, with a private boat, orwith a taxi boat or if for your holidays in Greece you will be in Koswith a nice excursion of the tour of the three islands.
Toknow more':http://www.infotourskos.com/catalogo/tour-delle-tre-isole.aspx