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The city of Kos or Cos, Kos

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General
Kos Town (πόλη της Κω) or Cos is the capital, the tourist and cultural center, and the main port of the island of Kos in the Dodecanese . Resident population is 18,000 inhabitants.
EtymologyEtymology
Kos or Cos, carried many different names during its history complicated the ancient Greeks called it already Kos (Κως), but the Romans gave the name of Coos Cous or, at the end of the Middle Ages, the Venetians the Genoese and the Knights of St. John, it was Lango (perhaps due to the elongated shape of the island). The Ottoman Turks, who occupied it for nearly four centuries, named Istankoy (the Europeans retranscrivaient Stankou). During their domination of the island, the Italians named Coo.

Location

Kos Town view from the ferry from Bodrum. Click to enlarge the image.Kos town is located at the northeastern end of the island of Kos .

The port of Kos is located 119 km from the city of Rhodes , and 370 km from Piraeus, the port of Athens, but only 21 km from the city of Bodrum in Turkish Anatolia.

VisitsVisits

Plan of the city of Kos. Click to enlarge the image.When you arrive in Kos by the sea, the city offers an enchanting sight with the majestic fortress of the Knights who imposes the foreground, while in the background lie the central highlands of the island . The imposing castle Cos (Kástro in the local language) channel protects the Mandraki harbor that opens on the right Mandraki harbor is almost circular promenade surrounds the Akti Kountouriotou (Ακτή Κουντουριώτου) palm fringed and outdoor cafes, to the left of the castle, the promenade is Akti Miaouli (Ακτή Μιαούλη) that begins and it continues through the avenues Vasileos Georgiou (Λεωφόρος Βασιλέως Γεωργίου) and Georgiou Papandreou (Λεωφόρος Γεωργίου Παπανδρέου), which lead to the beaches of Psalidi, Agios Fokas and Therma Loutra .

Behind the castle, and connected to it by a bridge, lies Square Plane (Platía always Platanou / πλατεία του πλατάνου) owes its name to the plane of Hippocrates , under which the famous doctor had taught his disciples.

A bougainvillea boulevard Hippocrates in Kos - Click to enlarge in Adobe Stock (new tab)A bignone climbing a palm boulevard Hippocrates in Kos. Click to enlarge the image. A devastating earthquake in 1933 led to a redesign of the Planning Cos is a modern city and airy, crossed by wide avenues shaded by pines and palm trees and adorned with bougainvillea, oleander and hibiscus red, as Boulevard of the Palm-trees (Λεωφόρος των Φοινίκων) that separates the castle of the medieval town boulevard or Hippocrates (Λεωφόρος Ιπποκράτους), which borders the archaeological site of the ancient agora . These boulevards leading to the central square, Place de la Liberté (Platia Eleftherias / πλατεία Ελευθερίας), where stands one of the most beautiful mosques in the city with its tall minaret, recalling the Ottoman past of the island still lives where a large Muslim minority.

The earthquake revealed in the center of the city of entire blocks of Hellenistic and Roman ruins, including the white stones fit perfectly in the urban landscape, but this earthquake has saved a part of the old town of Kos centered around pedestrian and Ifestou Apellou: the lively area where people like to walk with trendy shops, restaurants and bars. The pedestrian street leads to the site of archaeological west , a vast area including, among other vestiges, those houses decorated with mosaics and frescoes.

The Church of St. Paraskevi (Agia Paraskevi)
The Church of Agia Paraskevi in Kos. Click to enlarge the image. The church of Agia Paraskevi (Αγία Παρασκευή) was built during the years 1932 and 1933 not far from the Place Eleftherias, it is a large church which is located on a terrace at the end of the street Ipsilandou, which dominates the covered market Kos. Paraskevi (Paraskeva French) means "preparation", that is to say, preparation of the Sabbath. The church is the seat of the city of Kos, the equivalent of a diocese.

The interior of the church is decorated with beautiful murals in the traditional Byzantine style. Each painting was sponsored by a family of Cos which can read the name at the bottom of the image. On the vault, you can see right between the dome and the west portal: "The Birth of Jesus", "The Presentation of Jesus in the Temple" and "The Baptism of Jesus." On the left you can see, from west to east: "Christ before Pilate", "The Crucifixion of Jesus Christ" and "The Descent of Christ into Hell." In the scene of the crucifixion, we see that the blood flows from the wounds of Christ’s feet on a skull under the cross. This is the skull of Adam, the first man. This symbolizes the blood sacrifice of Jesus gives eternal life to men. The "Christ’s Descent into Hell" is a theme of the New Testament which Western churches are less attention than the Eastern churches. After his death on the cross and before his resurrection, Jesus descended into hell and damnation saves from Adam and Eve, representing all dead.

Open every day from 7 am to 12 pm and from 17 pm to 20 pm.

The Church of Agia Paraskevi in ​​Kos - Click to enlarge in Adobe Stock (new tab)The Church of Agia Paraskevi in ​​Kos - Click to enlarge in Adobe Stock (new tab)The Church of Agia Paraskevi in ​​Kos - Click to enlarge in Adobe Stock (new tab)
The Municipal Market
The municipal market Kos. Click to enlarge the image.
The municipal market covered Kos. Click to enlarge the image.The municipal market covered Kos. Click to enlarge the image.The municipal market covered Kos. Click to enlarge the image.
Ports of Kos
Mandraki HarbourThe ferry terminalMarina (marina)
Mandraki Harbour seen from the bastion Carretto. Click to enlarge the image.The ferry terminal Kos seen from the castle Neratzia. Click to enlarge the image.Kos Marina view from the castle Neratzia. Click to enlarge the image.
Beaches
The beach of Psalidi in Kos (author losangeles1947). Click to enlarge the image in Flickr (new tab).The hot spring Embros Kos (author Karelj). Click to enlarge the image in Flickr (new tab).The nearest beaches of Kos town are crowded in summer: the nearest beach is the beach of Lambi, just 2 km northwest.

We found a little quiet on the way to the beaches of Psalidi (3 km), near the campsite, Agios Fokas (8 km) and Embros Therma (12 km), also known as Therma Loutra, and its thermal springs sulphurous water which rises a little temperature seawater

History and traditionsHistory, literature, arts, traditions, legends, religions, myths, symbols ...

History

General Information

General
Weather forecast
The Tourist Office of Kos
Address: 1 rue Vasileos Georgiou. On the platform to the left of the landing hydrofoils (Flying Dolphins) in the old inn Gelsomino .

Phone: 00 30 22420 24460

Summer hours (June 1 to October 15): Monday to Friday, 8 am to 20 pm, Saturday from 9 am to 14 pm.

Winter hours (from 16 October to 31 May): Monday to Friday, 8 am 14 am 30.

Website: www.kos.gr (in Greek!)

Excursions in Bodrum
The ferry terminal Kos seen from the castle Neratzia - Click to enlarge in Adobe Stock (new tab)The island of Kos is connected to the Turkish port of Bodrum (ancient Halicarnassus) once a day by ferry (50 minutes) or hydrofoil (20 minutes). Bring the necessary documents to enter the Turkish border.

The ferry port of the island is located at the northern end of the peninsula where the castle Neratzia .

HotelsHotels
RestaurantsRestaurants

Other topicsOther topics

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More detailed topics
Kos Town, Kos Island - Interactive map
Kos Town, Kos - The Greco-Roman city
Kos Town, Kos - The Byzantine city
Kos Town, Kos - The medieval town
Kos Town, Kos - Castle Neratzia
Kos Town, Kos - The Ottoman city
Kos Town, Kos - The Italian town
The village of Platani, Kos
The village and hot spring Empros, Kos
Close topics
The island of Kos - Interactive Map
The city of Kos or Cos, Kos
The site of the Asclepion of Kos, Kos
The town of Asfendiou, Kos
The town of Pyli, Kos
The town of Antimahia or Antimachia, Kos
The town of Kardamena, Kos
The town of Kefalos, Kos
The island of Kos in the Aegean - The history of the island
Broader topics
Greece
The island of Kos or Cos in the Aegean
The island of Symi in the Aegean
The island of Rhodes in the Aegean
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