Kos Town

Kos town reminds a big archeological park. This old city, which is located on the crossroads of the bustling trade-roads, has been destroyed in the 1933 during the powerful earthquake. This earthquake uncovered the ancient ruins and Italian, who governed then the island, decided not to repair the center of the city.

Of course medieval monuments such as the Castle of Nerantzia and mosque of Hassan Pasha were carefully restored. Italians reshaped the city. They planned the new central area, port, open areas, market and administrative buildings with full respect to the ancient ruins. Especially to the Roman since they wanted to pick out their presence in that region.

One of the main monuments of the Kos Town is a Castle of Neratzia which has been built by the Knights of Rhodes between of the 14 and 15 centuries. If you arrive to the city from the sea, it will be the first great monument which you see. Castle dominates the port of the Kos town and has been built to protect it.

Photo Kos Town Market

But castle never been used as intended. When knights wedged the war with Ottoman Empire they decided to leave the Kos and concentrate their main effort to protect the Rhodos. It’s worth mentioning that Castle of Neratzia stands on the city of ancient fortifications of the Kos town.

In front of the entrance to the Castle (not from the sea) located another famous Kos attraction – the huge tree under which according to the legends practiced the Hippocrates. It’s not true because the tree is only few hundred years old but this fact does not prevent tourists from visiting this place.

Nearby you can find Mosque of Hasan Pasha which has been built in 1786.

And just in few meters from it there is a big archeological park with ruins of the temple dedicated to the Aphrodite and city’s agora. Also you can find there the remnants of the ancient defensive walls and early Christian church. At the mead of the day it can be very hop place so better time to visit this park is a morning.

After the park you can visit the main square of the Kos town - Plateia Elefthereias which took its guise after the Italian renovation in the beginning of the 20 century. On this square you can find the Archaeological Meseums of the Kos as well as the city’s food market.

If you go further in the south direction you will find another great archaeological park with the ruins of the temple dedicated to the Dionysos. And a little further, across the road, there is so called Casa Romana – very well restored Roman house.

These the list of most famous ancient ruins in the Kos town. Across the town, you will probably face with many unknown scattered ruins.

If you visit Kos town for a few days you will be charmed by walking on the nigh city. All ruins are littering and you have chance to make a great photos. All cafes and restaurants are working until the last client so you can easy find the place where you can rest.

Hippocrates tree

If you visit the Kos the local guides will tell you a legend that in the center of the Kos town there is a “plan tree of Hippocrates” – place where according to the believes the “father of the medicine” treated the people.

Of course such tree is exist. It’s huge tree which is approximately 500 years old. So it can’t be “the tree of Hippocrates” because he lived few thousand years ago.

But don’t be disappointed and include this monument in your “things to see” on Kos list. It’s a very lovely place, one of the most beautiful on the island. Especially in a hot summer day because you can shelter in the tree’s shadow from the direct sunrays.

This place was very honored by the Turks who ruled the island until the beginning of the 20 century. They built the drink fountain nearby, beautiful Loggia of Hassan Pasha and Mosque.

Asklepion

The ruins of Asklepion temple located near the Kos town in a midst of the pine trees. It’s a one of the main attractions of the island. In the terms of the modern world Asklepion is a hospital.

In the ancient times, it was the place, which people visited to improve their health.

It’s not sporadic that the Asklepion located on the Kos island. Kos is known for its healthy climate and mineral springs and traditions of treatment on the island spawned in the pre-historic times.

Among the names who repaired their health here, I can mention Mark Antony and Cleopatra who spent one of their vacations on the island.

Photo Kos Asklepion

Patients who visited the Asklepion bestowed to the temple a much from their states. So Asklepion in ancient times was very rich temple with lot of sculptures and marble buildings. Unfortunately, you can’t see its past magnificence since

Asklepion has been destroyed in the Middle Ages. What you see today in Asklepion, it’s a result of restoration work, which was conducted by Italian archeologists at the beginning of the 20 century.

You can get to the Asklepion via the Kos town, but more pleasant road to the Asklepion starts from the Zia village.

Zia Village Kos

This picturesque village located on the hills of the Dikeos mountains in a distance of 16 km from the Kos town. Zia Village mainly known for its touristic shops which occupy the main street of the village. Another attraction of this place is a lot of restaurants that propose a spectacular view from the open terraces to the coast. It’s especially wonderful during a sunset.

Photo Zia Village

In the Zia village you can look over the three churches which you can find just near the entrance to the village. And near the village starts the road which will lead you to the highest point of the Kos island

Metropolitan Museum Armor Chamber

Metropolitan Museum Egyptian Collection

Madame Tussauds New York

National Archeological Museum in Athens

It’s the largest Museum of Greece with unique collections of ancient Greek arts. After the Acropolis it’s the second place which must be visited in the city. Someone can think that all notable ancient artifacts where exported from Greece in the 19 century and if you want to see ancient Greek sculpture you must visit such cities as Munich or London, but it’s not true.

National Archeological Museum in Athens possess largest ancient Greek sculpture in the world. Below the photos of some museum items that best of all impressed me.