Menetes Village Karpathos

The wonderful Menetes village is located on the top of a steep slope close to the mountain about 350 meters above sea level and eight kilometers from Pigadia, the capital of Karpathos.

Considered one of the most beautiful and characteristic villages of the island, it looks like a delightful wedding favor made of whitewashed houses with blue windows adorned with flowers of various colors and colored doors. The street divides the village in two with its labyrinthine alleys where suddenly you turn a corner and you will find pastel-colored courtyards that give it a very special atmosphere.

Menetes built as an amphitheater is surrounded by lush and intact nature, with its lush forests, majestic cliffs and small coves that give the visitor an unforgettable glimpse of Karpathos and given its position it offers a spectacular view of the bay of Vronti. Furthermore, the village of Menetes, given its location, is visible from the sea when arriving from Rhodes.

The village was born in the Middle Ages when the population was forced to retreat towards the interior to defend themselves from continuous pirate attacks. Menetes is a real jewel, here 'cleanliness is essential, you will not find even a piece of paper on the floor, the whole population is very keen on this order so much so that throughout the country you will find signs reminding the heavy sanctions in the event that the environment is disfigured or polluted (and let's say good for this rather than correct mentality, let's better preserve our planet!).

A must stop is certainly the oven where every morning Lazarakia small spiced breads dedicated to San Lazzaro are prepared with cloves as eyes and with a human form wrapped in a shroud. Tradition would have it that one of the Lazarakia prepared in the first Holy Week be kept at home until the following year to then be thrown into the sea as a meal for the fish to wish good luck.

Menetes still has a peasant culture in his soul and this is demonstrated by the fact that every morning a local pickup truck passes by with chickens to sell. A small habit that however makes us understand how much traditions are still rooted in some Greek Islands.

Beyond the view, Menetes deserves to be placed on the list of things to see in Karpathos for its natural beauty and for the beautiful 19th century Church of the Assumption with a stunning icon of the Virgin Mary dating back long before construction of the basilica. According to local legend, the icon is able to perform miracles and on the 15th of August the Virgin's name day, a beautiful party is organized with songs, folk dances and typical gastronomic specialties. If during your holidays in Greece 2023 you will be on the island do not miss it, it is an opportunity to get to the heart of life in Karpathos.

Another attraction of Menetes is the Byzantine Church of Agios Mamas. Built in the 11th century, the historic church is among the 14 on the island that preserves ancient murals. On the outside it is immaculate with a blinding white color with blue decorations and a beautiful red dome that dominates the basilica. Equally majestic inside where the floor is a rich mosaic, the altar a work of art carved in wood and spectacular religious paintings on the walls of the 1300s.

Going up towards the mountain instead you will find the Church of the Profiti Ilias where the view will leave you breathless and the church of Agios Antonios with its Byzantine frescoes.

Finally, the Archaeological Museum of Menetes where you can observe numerous archaeological finds from various eras found on the island, and the Folklore Museum housed in a traditional house on a hill where among other things the view is wonderful that you collect traditional clothes, tools of everyday use, musical instruments so you can travel with your imagination and imagine what life was like here before.

A curiosity, many players of Karpathos are originally from Menetes, here the musical culture both from the point of view of the study and the real construction of the instruments has always been very active and present.

It's very simple, keep Pigadia as a reference point, head towards the interior of the island and follow the signs for the village. We would like to point out that for a stretch of at least a quarter of an hour the road will be full of curves and hairpin bends, on the other hand Menetes is in the mountains if it can be defined as such but absolutely feasible and not demanding.