Kalymnos Island
Kalymnos island is located in the Dodecanese archipelago, the group of twelve islands closest to the coast of Asia Minor.
Neither small nor large, Kalymnos not much beaten by mass tourism, is a wonderful island where you can still breathe an authentic typically Greek atmosphere. Its development towards modernity is still slow and sincerely speaking we think it's a great thing, it has no desire to distort itself and become a typically tourist island, its inhabitants with a proud and firm character deep down do not have the desire to change , love Kalymnos for what it is trying to keep customs and traditions as in the past.
History of Kalymnos
It has a very long history and let's start from the always fascinating and interesting mythology. His name comes from the titan Kalydnos son of Hera and Uranus who saved himself from his father's wrath by clinging to the island. Since the Bronze Age 3000 BC it was inhabited by the population of Asia Minor and they had a link with the Minoan civilization as evidenced by the remains at Emporio and Vathi. It played an important role in the Trojan War as Kalymnos was formerly famous for its shipbuilding. In the 7th century BC it was part of the Doric Hexapolis together with the nearby island of Kos but was conquered by the Persians after the defeat of the Peloponnesian War. During the Roman period, it fell into ruin due to the heavy taxes imposed and to worsen the situation in the Byzantine period it was continuously plundered by pirates forcing the inhabitants to build a fortified citadel, the Hora. A decidedly unfortunate island in the past, in addition to the continuous raids by marauders and usurpers, it also suffered several calamities from Nature such as the violent earthquake in 535 which even detached a part of the island giving life to the current islet of Teleondos. In the 13th century it underwent Venetian domination and then was almost immediately ceded to the Knights of San Giovanni. As in all of Greece, the subsequent period linked to the Ottoman Empire did not contribute in a positive sense to its survival, they were dark and difficult centuries for the population which however resisted until the end. Then the Italians arrive who first move the capital towards the sea to Pothia which however gives relief to its inhabitants by also doing many things to improve the island. It ends with the Second World War, where the Germans occupy it for about a couple of years, also making life difficult, but finally in 1948 on March 7 it becomes free and Greek again.
Kalymnos is a mountainous island whose center has a fertile valley where juicy citrus fruits known throughout the archipelago are grown, natural inlets that almost look like Norwegian fjords, breath-taking panoramas and beaches mainly made of small stones with an extremely clean and crystalline.
When one thinks of Kalymnos, the first things one remembers are sponges, good food and sport.
As for sponges, for those who don't know yet, they hold the record for fishermen of these animals, tradition has it that for more than 500 years they have been the best in fishing for them. For good food there is little to explain, taking into account that most of the population is dedicated to deep-sea fishing, it is not difficult to understand that in Kalymnos you can eat the freshest fish in the whole Dodecanese and in addition to the quality we must add that the ancient recipes with which the local delicacies are still prepared have that something extra'. Finally let's talk about sport, thanks to its morphology that offers high cliffs overlooking the sea and rocky walls to be explored, the free clumbing world championship is organized every year. Usually in October but generally for most of the year, Kalymnos is populated by sportsmen from all over the world who come here to participate in the event or simply to conquer new peaks while having fun.
The sea in Kalymnos is a sparkling and iridescent blue, a color that can only be found here and gives that particular and unique touch to the island. Its coasts are real oases of relaxation where you can spend a peaceful day at the beach in close contact with nature.
Stop in Pothia for an aperitif perhaps on Sundays when the whole port is filled with clubs that for nothing in the world would give up a moment of sharing kissed by the sun's rays, take the opportunity to go and see the Museum of Sponges or go to a typical tavern for a delightful lunch or in one of the many "ouzeries" where you can try the legendary mèze appetizers of fish, meat or cheese accompanied by a glass of ouzo or better yet tsipouro.
Visit the Castle of the Golden Hand at the Chora the old capital residence of the Knights of St. John, then move to the village of Vathi (only the road will give you breathtaking views) a small village at the end of a fertile valley that ends in a wonderful inlet with almost exotic and if you are among the lucky ones who can rent a boat go up to the cliff where there is a swing suspended over the sea where you can swing and admire the beauty of the fjord.
A jump to the Telendos island is a must! Also called the "Sleeping Princess" it can be reached with a ten minute boat ride from the Myrties area. A place where time seems to stand still with some tremendously wild beaches and reachable on foot through centuries-old olive groves, others like the one on the side where you can also arrive equipped with a couple of taverns where you can sit and fill your belly while gazing towards the sea horizon. In Telendos on August 15th a big party is organized in honor of the Holy Virgin, go there if during your holiday in Kalymnos if you are nearby it will be a fantastic experience.
What else to add if not to "get lost" in this unusual island, get on the motorbike and get behind the wheel following the roads that will give you hidden corners that you will hardly be able to forget.