Kasos Island Karpathos

The wonderful Kasos is a small rocky island that seems to have almost fallen from who knows where in the middle of the sea, it is located in the Dodecanese Archipelago halfway between the Karpathos island and Crete island. The classic Greek island in the imagination of all still bloody wild and unspoiled, where mass tourism still does not take root (luckily we add), you want because it is little more than sixty square kilometers, not quite so easy to reach and not equipped with all modern conveniences for visitors who have to settle for what they find.

About two hundred nautical miles from Egypt, it is a typically Mediterranean island where the only noises are those of the roosters or the waves of the sea, where peace, silence and slowed down rhythms make Kasos one of the last true Greek islands.

With a thousand inhabitants and for the isolation due to its position, we say that it is not among the richest islands of the Aegean, the inhabitants to live, still deal with fishing and the little tourism that ventures up to these extremities, but we can say that its charm is also made of this extreme simplicity, where you can spend the days or evenings in the square with the elderly listening to legends and past stories, sipping a glass of ouzo and getting lost in the relaxed atmosphere that will make you forget about problems and busy life.

It has a long history behind it like all the islands of the Dodecanese and sincerely not always with a happy ending.From archaeological finds, it has been inhabited since prehistoric times, then passing to the Phoenicians as from the testimony of Homer who connects it to the war of Troy as Kasos for centuries was a great company of navigators and shipowners, up to the wars against the Persians, the period of dependence on Rhodes to move to Venetian domination and become a real haunt of pirates. During the Ottoman occupation, Kasos was one of the most difficult islands to submit and in 1824 to punish their resistance, the Turks burned the entire island deporting the inhabitants with the consequence of the almost disappearance of the population. Last, the Italians and in 1948 the island finally returned under the Greek flag.

All inhabited centers are located in the northern part. The capital is Fri as well as the main port of the island and the most populated. The small heart square of the village is located near the old port of Emporios where excursions to the surrounding beaches leave. A succession of stone houses, small buildings still well preserved and alleys complete it. Here you will find most of the accommodation for visitors and some typical taverns where you can taste excellent fresh fish and delicacies prepared by the ladies, and some cafes where you can relax and maybe get to know some local. The Fri village (which in Greek means eyebrow and apparently has this shape), has a small cathedral to visit.

Just above the Fri hill, we find the hamlet of Panagia. The peculiarity of this small agglomeration is that in August in the churchyard there is the feast dedicated to the Madonna with popular songs and dances, where men and women, as per Orthodox tradition, are divided into two neighboring courtyards. In Panagia there are also the "six chapels", six churches next to each other dedicated to six different saints. The view from here is fantastic.

Just a kilometer from Fri, we find Agia Marina a small group of houses where the locals live most, with its classic white churches and mills that remind us much more of the classic landscape of the Cyclades Islands rather than the Dodecanese.

The Poli town , on the other hand, is the most distant (if you can use this adjective) from Fri just above the highest hill on the island. Together with the Arvanitohori village they were the agricultural areas of Kasos but today we say that it is more towards abandonment. The Poli village has an amphitheater shape with the houses clinging to the top where you have a beautiful view of the whole island and its surroundings. A pretty church with a courtyard of stones and trees that shelter it from the sun is one of the things to visit.

If you are a lover of Greece, you will have understood that religion is truly very important and deeply felt, which is why you will find Churches and Monasteries of all sizes everywhere. Obviously Kasos also has its own and there are many of them. The monasteries on this island are famous for hosting pilgrims. During the holidays and celebrations that are very popular and that will really make you feel like you have gone back in time, they open the cells to those who want to stop and sleep at night. The two most important are the Saint George Monastery in the northern part and the Agia Mamma Monastery in the southeast area which is located right above the sea above a rock where inside you can admire interesting frescoes.

As we said above, Kasos celebrates many celebrations dedicated to the saints and there are beautiful celebrations all year round. The most important ones are on August 15th dedicated to the Holy Virgin Mary and on July 17th in Santa Marina in the homonymous village.

Another attraction of Kasos is the Ellinokamara cave which is located on the south west coast near the village Agia Marina which can be reached with a walk. It is said that it was used by the population to defend against pirate attacks and that in the past it was a place of worship from the Mycenaean era to the Hellenistic era. Just in front of the cave, a small valley with olive trees and fields to the sea.

And how not to contemplate the beautiful and wild beaches of Kassos. Let's say that they are few but on the other hand also the extension of the island is reduced.

Let's start with the Emporios beach, the best known also because the one in the town. Equipped and with two taverns and a bar for something to drink or eat, let's say it is the one that is increasingly crowded because it is more convenient and close. It has a sandy shoreline and is bathed by an extremely blue, clear and calm sea.

We continue with the Ammounda beach which is located about three kilometers from Fri. It is a small bay of white sand with a clean turquoise sea. The position sometimes exposes it to the wind so check the weather if you want to spend a day there. The beach of Ammounda however has one of the most beautiful sunsets in Kassos that you can admire from the beach bar when the sun descending into the sea gives indescribable colors.

Perhaps the most characteristic Helatros beach is located in the south east part. A suggestive bay with crystal clear and turquoise waters, a sandy beach mixed with pebbles all embraced on the sides by high rocky walls. Protected from the winds, it is ideal for swimming lovers and for relaxing, while waves are loved offshore, especially by sportsmen who practice windsurfing. The bay was built in times past as a safe haven for ships on stormy days. There is a small bar that supplies in addition to drinks and something to eat also sun beds and umbrellas of palm leaves all very free range but this is Greece that we like. It can be reached by car or motorbike from a long road between hairpin bends and a few holes, so be careful. If you decide to go in the evening or at night, remember that it is not illuminated.

Avlaki beach difficult to reach, you have to get to the Monastery of Saint George, take the path that goes down the cliff and after about two kilometers you reach a promontory that is attached to the island of Kasos by a crescent shaped sandy tongue and here you are arrived in paradise. An enchanting sea, with changing colors and extremely clean waters. Obviously it is not equipped you are almost in the middle of nowhere so I recommend you bring everything you need. A fatigue paid off in large places so there are very few!

In reality it is said that the most 'beautiful' beaches are not directly in Kasos, but in the nearby Armathia islet a group of rocks surrounded by strips of sand with a small and enchanting lagoon with an indescribable color sea, you have to see it with your own eyes to understand. It can only be reached by sea. https://www.manousos-kassos.gr/index.php/en/

There are various ways of reaching Kasos. Either with a flight to Karpathos, Crete or Rhodes and then take the ferry, or with an internal flight from Athens to Kasos if you want to stay.

If you want to make a short visit, daily excursions depart from Karpathos, which you can find in the many agencies on the island.

In short, what more can you say about this beautiful island if not to go there and discover it in total freedom.