Kos Island Greece, The Official Travel Guide

White Rock In the cave of the white rock which is on the mountain Zini, an older settlement dating from the Bronze Age (2900 – 2100 BC ) came to light. The discovery was made in 1922 by the archaeologist Alessandro Delia Seta and Dora Levi. They collected fragments of pottery, millstones, an engraved ceramic pot, blades and volcanic glass, items of decoration and food remains. During this period which was known as the first Greek period, the Pelasgon moved to Kos for the first
time from Asia Minor and from other parts of Mainland Greece. During geometrical times the white stone was considered a place of worship of the rural gods as is shown by the findings during the Greek period as well. Panas and the Nymphs were worshiped there. In the interior of the cave there is still an area for worship and in the Roman times,as it has been shown by the findings of this period.
Palatia In the area of Palatia which is located west of Kefalos, there are two churches and a small theatre from the Greek period. According to the signs found, a sanctuary dedicated to the triad of Asclipio, Igia and Omonia was built after the Omocity between and Kalymnos at the beginning of the 2nd century BC. The worship of Asclipio in the municipality of Isthmioton was carried out in ancient times and during this time the aristocracy felt the need to keep the tradition and the local cultural tradition from being lost because of the influx of foreigners.
Old Christian Settlement The first research of the beach of Kefalos which was carried out during 1935 – 1943 bought to light the Basilica of Kamariou also known as the small graveyard Basilica and Basilica of St Stefanou. Along the coast of Kefalos a settlement had spread of the old Christian period which was considered one of the most important of the island. Ceramic factories were established in the 6th – 7th century and business relations were formed between Kefalos and Konstantinoupoli.
Basilica of St. Stefanos The group of Basilicas of St Stefanos are located in the eastern area of the coast of Kefalos. It is a group of Basilicas of the old Christian period, which were discovered in 1932 and today are one of the most important monuments in Kos. It is made up of two Basilicas originally the big one was established in the south ant then the smaller one in the north, with the Baptistry in the south east and a big atrium in the west. The foundations were made on a rock made of granite which goes into the sea and so in many places the lowest areas of the walls have a rocky surface. The walls are made of rocks and lime mortar and today it stands at approximately 1m metre. The mosaic floors have been preserved and they are covered today to protect them from the weather conditions.
Small Graveyard Basilica of Kefalos 5th - 6th Century AD The small Basilica of Kefalos is located at a short distance west of St Stefanos. It is a single chamber with storage areas and outer buildings in the north and south and a big yard in the west. In one of the side areas of the church a tomb was discovered made of big ceramic plaques. According to studies the outlay of the building was made for the safe keeping of bones of a saint or martyr.
Basilica Kamari of Kefalos The basilica in Kamari Kefalos has three sides, a big arch in the east and an extended arch on the northern side. The floors of the Basilica are decorated with mosaic which are mainly geometrical in shape and depict circles and circular patterns. It is worth mentioning that there were also fish and dolphins with a double anchor depicted, which was a rare thing of this period. Another interesting finding was the engraved monogram which was found on the stone in the south east corner of the main church. It is a sphere which has a cross on it, from which the letters alpha and omega are formed.
Castle of Kefalos The castle of Kefalos is in the south east area of the mountain. It was considered a safe fortress in the 15th century. According to documents found in the archives of the Ioanniton Knights, when the Othoman fleet burnt the castle of Neratzia in 1457 in the city of Kos, the Knights commended the residents to take cover in the castles of Old Pyli, Kefalos and Andimahia.
Kastelli Kefalou It is a small fortress in the south west area of the island in the area of Sarikinou and from its position the residents could see the passing between Nisyros and Kefalos. The area was fortified from the 13th century AD and was reinforced by the Ioannites Knights in the 15th century AD.

Basilica of St. Anargiron The Basilica of St Anargiron is situated in the village of Antimachia. A large part of the Basilica is covered by a house built in the 20 the century. Castle of Antimachia The castle of Andimahia was founded, according to information from the Ioanniton archives of Malta, at the beginning of the 14th century by H. de Vileleneue in the place of a small Byzantine castle.With the passing of time the uses of the castle varied according to what was needed.
From 1383, according to a decision made by the General committee of the Knights, the castle was used as a prison for condemned knights.According to three different documents from the middle of the 15th century it seems the castle was a fortified settlement, a small castle city. The central gate of the castle was protected by a big semi-circle bastion. This was the work of Fabrizio del Carretto (1513 – 1521 AD ). The wall towards the flat north – south side were impressive. They were fortified in the low sections while in the south towards Kardemena, the castle took advantage of the steep slope of the ground. Inside the castle three churches were saved.
The church of St Paraskevi, St Nikolas and the relics of the church of St Mary’s Eleimonitrias. During the Turkish reign a mosque was built but it no longer exists. The constant attacks by the Ottoman fleet, and by the pirates who came to the Aegean in the 15th – 16th century, drove the residents of the island to flee to the interior of the castle many times since the Ioannites Knights considered it one of the safest castles. In the middle of the 19th century the residents abandoned the castle and moved towards the northern area of the island and south towards the sea, thus establishing two new settlements, that of Andimahia and that of Kardamena.

The archaeological area of Old Pyli is in the middle of the island of Kos, south east of the village of Pyli and spreads to the western part of Mount Dikaio at an altitude of 300 metres from the surface of the sea. The round walls on the north western side of the hill show that the area had been lived in since the Minoic times, while according to researchers, the Sanctuary of Dimitra and Pele of the ancient municipality of Alention was found in the surrounding area.
The settlement spread to the foot of the hill, it consisted of churches, like the Holy Monastery of St Mary Kastrianon, many abandoned houses, a bathhouse, a fountain from the Othoman period, a watermill and paved roads. Many of the deserted houses were saved. In general, they were rectangular, with narrow openings at the entrance and small rectangular windows. In some of the houses rectangular beams for the middle floor were used. They were built with stones and strong plaster in the joints in which small bricks were found. These types of houses were found all over the settlement of Old Pyli.
Cyclopean Walls In the northwest of the hill of the castle remains of cycleopean wells were found which have been dated, according to research and archaeological findings, to prehistoric times. There is a ceramic surface in the area dating from the Bronze age.
Sanctuary of Dimitra & Daughter It is located in the plain area in the north east of the Psoriari Hill in the location Kiparissi. It’s a small church dedicated to the worship of Dimitra and her daughter, which is dated to the beginning of the 4th BC. The church belongs to the ancient municipality of Alention and was excavated in 1929. Seven statues which depict Dimitra and her daughter (Persefoni) were found. Also a statue of Hades and also the base of a statue which are exhibited today in the museum of Kos.
Monastery of St. Mary Kastrianou - Church of the Virgin Mary (Ipapanti of Christ) When the monk Christodoulos Latrinos left Strovilo in Asio Minor he came to Kos. Here he founded the Monastery of St Mary Kastrianon on the hill in Pyli. The monastery is situated in the hill of Old Pyli and its ledger, which was dedicated to St Mary, is now dedicated to Ipapanti of Christ. Its’ name day is celebrated on the 2nd February on St Ipapanti of Christ Day and on the eve of the name day the parishioners hold a big celebration on the hill of old Pyli. From the Monastery of Christodoulou some ruins from the west and south of Kastriani were saved. There are possibly three towers in the south. The southern wall of the Monastery was saved and makes up the continuation of the wall towards the west. There are small rectangular cells on that side of the church. The building of St Mary Kastrianou is a single chamber covered church. The church has three building phases: the first consists of the main church, which is considered property of Chrisrodoulou and dates to 1080. The second may possibly be in the latter Byzantine period when an antenave was built with a flat roof. Lastly, dating the Hippocratic period they fortified the western area of the chamber with an arch made of rectangular stones. In the interior of the arch there is a semi – circular throne made of stone tiles with six escalated steps. The entrance opens up into the western wall and small circular skylights in the upper area of the western wall make up the only lit up opening of the church.
After the excavations of the main church tombs, which are dated to the beginning of the 16th century, were found. These were from the Othoman period. South of the church there was a cemetery of the same period. The murals which have been preserved show three layers. The first layer is where parts of saints and decorative elements are depicted. Along with the Genesis of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Even though the mural is very worn you can make out the face of the Blessed Virgin Mary which is shown and the artist has captured her expression extremely well. The details were extremely well done. The mural must have been done in the 12th century. The depiction of St Mary holding the infant with angels belongs to the second layer and is dated to the 12th century. It is located in the south east area of the church where churchgoers would kneel before it. The third layer belongs to the biggest part of the salvaged mural and dates to the beginning of the 16th century. It’s a work of art which shows weakness in design and the proportions. It’s a work of art belonging to the workshop of the artist Nikolaou who also painted murals in the Castle of Kalymnos.
Castle - Mid Byzantine Pylonas In the north west of the monastery on the hill of the settlement, there is a raised castle, built in different phases. The first fortified measures started at the end of the 11th century with the intent of fortifying the island against Turkish and Pirate invasions and also to be able to control the Asia Minor coast.The central gate of the castle is possibly the work of a Byzantine civil servant and was built in the late 11th century or beginning of the 12th century after Christodoulou left Pyli. and his fortune went to the State. It’s built using the technique of “hidden bricks” in the type of church which was developed in a cross shape. In the building you can see the influence of the Ioannites Knights. The castle has three fences. The front has a rectangular shape and follows the shape of thehill with seven towers which fortified the defence of the area. Inside we can see two cisterns for collecting rain water.
St. John Theologos is situated in the nothe eastern side of the hill of old Pyli in the ravine south of the Monastery of Kastrianon and is dated to the period of the Knights. It’s a single chamber roof covered church with a rectangular building along the length of the south side.
St. Antonio The church of St Antonio is located in the south eastern side of the settlement. It is a single chamber church from the period of the knights. It has a built in chamber which has a roof and has an eastern entrance. The church is located 1,20 metres lower than the natural surface of the ground and on the inside there are graves which have been covered. The arch of the church has a mural which depicts a sermon from the 16th century.
Church of Taxiarhion (St. Asomati) It is situated in the south west of the settlement of Old Pyli and has been built in three phases. The first phase which dates to the Byzantine period belongs to the eastern part of the main building which houses the built in chamber. It is lower than the natural surface of the ground. The Communion table is built in and has two apses. The second building phase, during the period of the Knights, the church was extended towards the west by adding a roof and extra chamber. And finally, the third phase was when a rectangular antenave was added with a flat roof. On the outside on the southern part, there were arches which supported the portico. In the antenave there was a tomb, and there may also have been tombs in the main part of the church. The church has two entrances in the western side and two rectangular windows. It is richly decorated and is covered. On the inside of the church which is dated to the 14th century and 16th century there is also rich decoration. It has an antenave with a low flat roof.
St. Vasilios It’s situated on the foot of the Castle hill and is a small single chamber church with a roof and a small semi circular area. The only source of light is the small window of the arch and the entrance on the west side. The church is dated to the period of the Knights. However, the most recent changes have transformed it.
St. Nikolas It is situated south of the settlement of Old Pyli at around the 2nd kilometer. It’s a single chambered built in and covered church. A large part of the chamber and the western wall has collapsed. The church had murals dating to the 14 – 15th century.
St. Georgios It is in the southern part of the hill.It is a single area church with small arched windows. The church is dated to the Hippocratic era while a variety of changes has transformed its’ original façade. Ancient marble pieces have been used on the walls. Two small, single chamber deserted churches have been found in the area, St Paraskevi and St Konstantinos whose roofs and side walls of 1 metre have almost collapsed.

Basilica of St. John Theologou The old Christian Basilica of St John Pergialiti is situated outside the village of mastichari and is about 8 metres south of the sea. It was excavated by Anastasio Orlando and was the first excavation to be carried out by the Greek government after the union of the dodecanese with the rest of Greece in 1947. It’s a three sided Basilica with a flattened surface towards the church antinave in the west and a protruding semi-circular arch in the east.
The baptistery is situated in the main area of the church on the north eastern side. On the south side there is a three sided outer building. The area of the Baslica has mosaic floors which have a variety of geometrical shapes. They also have circular, rectangular and square shapes depicting animals plants and pots.

Along the road to Amaniou towards Lagoudi, there are ruins from a settlement from the Othoman period, Koniario or Konidario, which according to sources has Muslim inhabitants. The settlement was deserted in the 1950’s. Today relics have been preserved from the windows and the two storey buildings which are red and achra in colour. Today the forest Koniario is a protected forest area which has been transformed into a recreational area by the Municipality of Dikaiou