Zia village

The now famous Zia village is located about fifteen kilometers west of the capital Kos Town. It is the highest town in the mountainous area of the island together with the villages of Asfendiou and Pyli. At the foot of Mount Dikeos, the highest peak at around 350 meters above sea level, Zia offers breathtaking views of the Aegean and the western coast of Anatolia as well as all the wonders of Kos such as the salt lake of Alikes.

Close to the natural source of Kefalovrisi which supplies fresh spring water to the whole island, it is a delightful place to go back in time with its narrow streets where today there are numerous souvenir shops, local crafts such as the beautiful hand-painted ceramics, typical products such as honey, wild herbs, local liqueurs and natural beauty products.

Entering the maze through the stairs carved into the rock and going upwards, you can arrive in small corners of paradise where time has truly stopped with the typical rock houses next to each other embellished with well-kept gardens.

Don't miss its three churches, to the south the Church of St. George Theriotis, the church of St. Mary Kiparissiotisas and near the Kafalovrisi spring the church of the Presentation of the Virgin Mary (Kouvoukliani).

Furthermore, beautiful paths start from Zia to reach the summit of Mount Dikeos, the highest point of Kos with its 846 meters of altitude. In a couple of hours but only when there is no wind you reach the top which offers magnificent views that will leave anyone speechless. On the top is the monastery of Christ the Savior founded in the 11th century by the monk Arsenio Skinouris of Kos and a much more recent large cross visible from the sea. The precise name of the mountain would actually be Dikaios Christo literally translated Christ the Just even if to be honest in the past it was recognized with the name of Oromedon. For those wishing to spend the night on the mountain, there is also a good shelter where you can enjoy a starry sky and on clear nights glimpse the majesty of the Milky Way.

But people come to Zia mainly to admire one of the most beautiful sunsets in all of Kos. A palette of colors that changes according to the seasons and weather conditions which all have the power to enchant and get lost in thoughts and desires. In recent years, however, we must be honest, Zia has become a highly requested destination and especially in the summer period it is literally taken over by tourists who, on organized or independent trips, flock to the village on the viewpoint, making everything very chaotic, noisy and decidedly the moment is less romantic.

Our advice is to go and visit Zia in the morning or in the afternoon, after all in Kos there are also many other places where you can enjoy the sunset.

During your visit, don't forget to taste the Kanelada, an artisanal cinnamon syrup typical of the village, or a juicy and vitamin-rich freshly squeezed lemon juice, a natural cure-all for energy.

Even from a gastronomic point of view, Zia offers various solutions. There are some truly special taverns such as the most famous Horomedon with its fabulous terrace overlooking the valley where you can taste Kleftiko, one of the highlights of Greek cuisine with very ancient origins. A succulent lamb marinated in olive oil, garlic, aromatic herbs, potatoes and seasonal vegetables wrapped in parchment paper and then cooked in the oven at a high temperature until it becomes so soft that you can even avoid using a knife to cut it.

Or the informal Taverna No Stress, to be reached by climbing a few stairs inside the village. Few seats, a family run business with finger-licking dishes such as baked lamb, homemade bread with wild herbs and the rich lemon cake to round off the dinner, obviously all accompanied by a mountain landscape made of tall trees and a view over the entire surrounding area up to the majestic Aegean.

Another tavern that we really like is Dikeos where in our opinion they make the best grilled lamb chops as well as numerous typical dishes of their rich Greek cousin.

Finally, if you also want to attend a folklore show with traditional dances and try some steps of Sirtaki, there is the Fantasia Tavern just before the village of Zia where dancing evenings are usually organized on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. all accompanied by good food and plenty of alcohol (if you want we can organize the evening, write to us at info@meraviglioseisolegreche.com).

It is highly recommended to book the taverns well in advance as there are few and given the large influx of people going at the last moment in season it is almost impossible to find a place.

A corner of Kos to visit during your holiday in Greece, it would really be a shame to miss it, a part where the beaches and the sea are not the protagonists, but the simplicity of Mother Nature.