Olympos Village Karpathos

Olympos, already from the name we can expect something mysterious and unique. The village is located in the north west of the island the wildest area of all Karpathos about eight kilometers from the  Diafani village.

Perched on the mountain suspended in the clouds just like the Mount of the Gods, it is a village with a particular charm that you can find only and exclusively here. Shaped like an amphitheater on the slopes of the Prophet Elias mountain and about 310 meters above sea level, it offers an enchanting view on both sides of Karpathos and the majestic Aegean. The houses seem to hover in the air and the sunlight irradiates all the houses for most of the day, giving them an almost magical effect.

Characteristic of Olympos are the windmills, there are about 75 and each family has its own. Some are still fully functional, others are abandoned but give that particular touch to the country. Olympos is also called the Women's Village as the female presence outnumbers the male presence because men were often away for work reasons and in ancient times engaged in various diatribes with pirates.

Today you can find some taverns where you can taste local specialties such as honey from the Saria island, spices made with wild mountain herbs and the typical dark bread with sesame seeds and the scent of cloves. On the main street there are numerous shops that sell classic souvenirs and traditional veils expertly hand made by local women who still dress in the tunics of the past tradition. In our times, there are about 500 people who live permanently in Olympos for the most part elderly and in the town square you can find the men sitting on the tables spend their time chatting or singing old songs.

Olympos was a Doric city called Vrykous and was part of the three ancient cities of Karpathos (the other two were Aperi and Arkasa). It was positioned lower than today, but due to continuous attacks by pirates, the inhabitants were forced to go into the more mountainous areas in order to defend themselves better. The language used even in modern times is different from the rest of the island, in fact the inhabitants have kept the local dialect, customs and habits.

Until 1980 the Olympos village was practically almost impossible to reach it because it was lost in the remote mountains of Karpathos and the communications between the north and the south part of the island, unlike flat and easy, were almost nil. Let's also say that the inhabitants themselves did not want to have anything to do with any other village of Karpathos especially with Pigadia the capital. For a very long time until 2011 it was completely independent and provided for needs autonomously with its own agricultural resources and the only contacts were with the nearby towns of Avlona and Diafani. Since 1990 the road network has been expanded and improved in order to easily reach Olympos and has allowed the village to develop with a lot of tourism, especially in the summer. Thanks to its charm and its particular architecture, Olympos has become the historical seat of the new municipality of Karpathos.

Do not miss the various popular festivals and celebrations that are still kept alive in Olympos following the ancient rites that give life to celebrations based on folk songs accompanied by old instruments such as the bagpipe and the lyre, dances and bingeing of traditional food.

Interesting trekking routes that start from Diafani reach the village of Olympos and Avlona, passing through enchanting landscapes and in close contact with nature.

The most favorable time to visit it is for sure either early in the morning or when everyone is sprawled on the beach in order to enjoy the narrow streets and maybe stop in some panoramic tavern to eat. It goes without saying that the time of sunset is a real chromatic and sensorial experience.

A bit torturous given the climbs, descents and various hairpin bends but can be done in total safety via the main road. Always keep the city of Pigadia as a reference and zigzagging for about forty kilometers uphill you will arrive in this hidden corner full of history and charisma.

Do not dare not to put it on the list of things to see in Karpathos, it would be a great loss for your holiday in Greece unless you decide to return.