Introduction

This lovely little island between Rhodes and Crete is still a very genuine place without any major tourism and friendly people. It is a great place for windsurfers since it gets quite windy here which often keeps the mosquitoes away, and keeps even the hot summer days enjoyable.

Half the island is harsh and inaccessible, the other is lush and idyllic. Some buildings are small and very genuine, others are modern. The same applies to the locals: many are modern and dressed accordingly, others wear more traditional clothes in bright colours.

This island is so varied and original that it is ideal for photographers and painters, and quite a few artists have taken refuge here. It might be a bit difficult to get here, but once you've made it you won't regret it.

History

Karpathos is mentioned in Homer's Iliad and has probably been inhabited since prehistoric times. According to mythology, this is where the king of the Titans, Lapetos, son of Uranos ("Heaven") and Gaea ("Earth") lived. It was also here Athena sprung out of her father Zeus' head.

It is very likely that the island was part of the Minoan, Cretan, civilization in the 2nd Millennia BC. The Dorians came from the north in the 9th century BC and settled here.

In the beginning of the 13th century the island (the called Sarpantos) came under Venetian rule after Constantinople had fallen, and in the 16th century the Turks followed. They stayed here until 1912, when the island was taken by Italy. In 1948 it was finally given back to Greece.

The great revival of Karpathos came in the 1980's, when many of the locals returned to the island after years abroad.

What to See

The village Olympos is a must!!! Because Karpathos was often raided by pirates, this little village was camouflaged since the people built their houses with natural stone. The village is also called "the Women's' Village") since the women have been and are in majority: their men have either been out fighting pirates and Turks, or forced to work abroad. There are also many local customs here not to be found anywhere else in Greece.

Lefkos is a very pretty little fishing village that is worth a visit, or why not stay the night here. In Arkasa there is a church from the 5th century, Agia Sophia ("Holy Wisdom"). The village Aperi is located on a height of 320m, and used to be the capital, and it is very pretty with small churches, a little square and a fountain.

Menetes is a village in the mountains built during the Middle Ages. There are many churches here as well as an archaeological museum, and the view is breathtaking.

What to Do

This is a great place for windsurfing and taking long walks. The snorkelling is also very good. Explore the villages - they're very original. There are bus tours to Olympos.

Beaches

The busiest beach is the long beach at Pigadia. Many agree that the best beaches are in Lefcos, where there is also a beach for nudists. In general, there are many beaches, bays and cliffs on the island where you can swim.

Nightlife

Most bars and clubs are in Pigadia. The Greeks love staying out until late, but it hardly ever gets out of hand. You'll simply have a very good time.

Food

The food served in the many taverns is mainly traditional Greek of high quality. The local specialty is pasta with onions called Makarounes.

Shopping

Except the many shops in Pigadia where you also can find newspapers and modern clothes and shoes, there are many shops in the little villages on the island. You can get a lot of handmade souvenirs like hand-woven textiles, painted ceramics and wood carved toys and kitchenware.

Getting Around

There is a quite good network of buses connecting Pigadia with several beaches and villages. A special bus takes you to Olympos. There are also car and bike rentals, and small boats that can take you to various beaches and villages. Taxis are also available.

Getting There

The airport doesn't take large airplanes, but there are flights to and from Athens Greece, Rhodes and Kassos. There are also ferryboats from Rhodes, Kassos and Crete.