The village of Platani, Kos

Platani has the distinction of having a large Turkish minority, and, incidentally, the best of Turkish restaurants on the island. The village has a mosque.

Platani was called before Kermetés (Germ in Turkish) because it was settled by convicts deported Keramos (Κέραμος) in Asia Minor, now Turkey Gokova in Anatolia. After Turkey invaded the northern part of Cyprus in 1964, the Greek authorities decided to change the Turkish name of the village to Platani.

After a tour in the mountains of Kos ( Asfendiou , Zia , Paleo Pili , Mount Dikeos), a stop at Platani for refreshments before returning to Kos or dinner, is more enjoyable.

These Turks kept their identity: they had their own school in the Turkish language, their businesses and, of course, their mosque. After the Turkish invasion of Cyprus in 1974, the school was converted into "just Greek" (after Turkey banned the Greek schools on the islands of Imbros and Tenedos), and the village was renamed Platani , for fear of reprisals, many Turks left the island of Kos in Anatolia, and today the Muslim population Platani not exceed 50 families remained only those who owned shops. However the mosque is still in use and you can always see Muslim women with their hair covered.

The Muslim cemetery Platani is one of the "attractions" of the village. There is also a Jewish cemetery near the Muslim cemetery: it is located in a pine forest, 300 meters after the exit towards Platani Kos .

The Arap serves traditional Greek and Turkish originating in Anatolia Iskender kebab (grilled meat with tomato sauce and yogurt, accompanied by fried potatoes and pita bread) yaourtlou (fried vegetables with yogurt and Garlic Sauce) ...

Menu from 10 € a 25 €.

Open from February to mid-November.

Phone: 00 30 22420 28442