Dodecanese

The Dodecanese is an archipelago in the Aegean Sea. Its name means “twelve (dōdeka) islands (nēsos)”. It lies to the east of the Cyclades, to the west of the coast of Asia Minor and to the northeast of Crete. Mild winters and refreshing summers give the Dodecanese one of the most pleasant climates in the Mediterranean.

The Dodecanese is home to remnants of the Byzantine Empire, the Knights of St. John, the Ottoman Empire and the Italian occupation of the 20th century.

In summer, the prevailing wind is meltemi blowing from a northwesterly direction at Force 4-6. In spring and fall, the wind is less strong and blows from the southeast. These islands are a marine paradise of over 163 islands and islets, most of them uninhabited.