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Kos

Kos or Cos is a Greek island of the Dodecanese, in the Aegean Sea, 4 km from the Turkish coast and the city of Halicarnassus (Bodrum). Its surface area is 287.2 km and it has about 31 000 inhabitants. Its climax reaches 875 meters. Kos is the third largest Dodecanese Island after Rhodes and Karpathos. It is a green and fertile island.

Kos is the capital and port of the island. The central square is called Elefterias. There is an archaeological museum, the maritime fortress of Neratzia dating from the 15th century where the Knights Hospitallers of St. John held power, the Hippocratic plane tree planted 2400 years ago where it would have taught and read its oath, The Gazi Hassan Pasha mosque dating back to 1786. The biggest curiosity of the city is the ancient Asklipi hospital, which was once cured with holy water. Today, it is only the fragments of the foundation and some columns that have remained of the hospital.

Kos has a few small villages that are worth a visit. Palio Pylio is an abandoned medieval village where you can find a lot of small churches and a castle of the Hospitallers on a high rocky summit.

In Asfendiou there are ancient churches and a castle. Kefalos was the capital of the island in antiquity, it was called Astypalea. Excavations of the city continue today.

Zia, near the village of Asfendiou, is a small village built as an amphitheater with many small churches and shops. It is a traditional village surrounded by woods and fruit trees. A road accessible by foot will lead you to the mountain, at the highest point of the island. Zia is also famous for its sunset and its panorama.

In Kardamena you can see a Byzantine church dedicated to Agios Theodotas, and in Antimachia, a castle. Antimachia is a picturesque village located on a low and arid plateau. Kos airport is not far away.

The most important fortification of the Knights of St. John on Kos is Neratzia in the capital but they also owned castles in Pylio, Andimachia and Kefalos. The purpose of these fortresses was to ensure the safety of Christian pilgrims and travelers on their way to the Holy Land against Ottoman attacks and attacks by pirates.

Empros, 12 km southeast of the city of Kos, is mainly known for its thermal spring, Therma Beach, which is one of the island’s attractions. It is located at the bottom of a cliff, on a square of pebbles and black sand.
Kos is the only island in the Dodecanese to have three different sources of thermal water – very hot, hot and cold. You will find them in Agios Fokas, Pisso Thermes, Kokkinonero and Volkanous.

The most popular beach in Kos is the beach of Paradise in Kefalos, a long sandy beach where you can practice water sports. The other popular beaches are those of Mastihari, Lambi and also the beach of Kardamena. The quieter beaches lie on the west side of the island.

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