The island of Symi in the Aegean

It is near the Turkish coast of Asia Minor, about fifteen miles.

Coordinates: Latitude: 36.616217 (36 ° 36 ’58.4 ") N, longitude: 27.837467 (27 ° 50’ 14.9") E

The capital has retained its beautiful neoclassical houses traditional Italian pastel colors white, yellow, ocher ... and tiled roofs. They are classified by the Greek Ministry of Culture: this way no unsightly building will disturb this beautiful layout.

The city is protected by an archaeological commission.

A clock tower (1884) stands on the north side of the harbor, where the ferries arrive.

Most houses neoclassical Gialós characterized by pedimented facades date from the nineteenth century and remained uninhabited for some decades. But now they are gradually restored, including the island expatriates who wish to own their island home a second home, or transformed into holiday homes, small style hotels, tavernas and shops. Pretty black and white pebbles paving squares and streets.

Tourist center of the island, the port of Gialos gathers most of the shops, restaurants and hotels.

In Gialós is also one of the last shipyard on the island.

The old town surrounding the castle and it is only recently that it has spread to the port.

The old town of Chorió a maze of alleys calm and clear, lined with modest houses. With their asymmetric architecture, even older than Gialos, beautiful houses Chorió, pastel green background (bougainvillea, cypress), reminiscent of the Cyclades, but their doors and windows are often adorned with decorative elements neo-classical interiors and maintain beautiful carved woodwork. Long abandoned, some of them have been restored.

Among the most interesting buildings of Chorió include pharmacy nineteenth century fortified house Chatziagapitos, churches, decorated with pebble mosaics, and especially the Kastro, built with ancient blocks. It contains the most beautiful village church, the Panagia Megala, decorated with frescoes and icons.

In 1309, the Knights landed on the island and built the castle on a hill overlooking the harbor on one side and a fertile valley on the other. The castle was strengthened by the Grand Master Emery d’Amboise in 1507 by adding a circular bastion.

It was severely damaged during World War II, and his entrance and the upper part of the castle disappeared.

The port is invisible from the broad to the Knights kept a fleet of light for their shipments. A small arsenal built and repaired these vessels, and thus the people of Symi won-t they reputation shipwrights until the early twentieth century.

4 km west of Symi (1 h 30 AR walk through a beautiful coastal path or by boat taxi from Symi (10 h to 14 h, 16 h and 18 h).

Coordinates: Latitude: 36.622692 (36 ° 37 ’21.7 ") N, Longitude: 27.814293 (27 ° 48’ 51.4") E

Located 2 km east of Symi town, accessible by boat from Symi.

In Homer’s Iliad, the island is the domain of Nireus king who fought in the Trojan War on the side of the Greeks. Thucydides recounts an episode of the Peloponnesian War: the Battle of Symi which took place near the island in January 411 BC, in which an unspecified number of vessels has spartan defeat a squadron of Athenian ships.

In antiquity, Symi was famous for the quality of its boats. Craftsmen built the Argo for Jason and his Argonauts.

The Turks also bought regularly fast sailboats built to Symi.

If participation in the revolution of 1821 cost him some of his privileges, Symi is less continued to prosper, as evidenced by the great neo-classical buildings that give the town its chief character.

The mid-nineteenth century, it was at its peak as evidenced by the neoclassical mansions built during this period and covering the slopes of the town of Symi. Symi was covered with sumptuous houses and many of its inhabitants bought land in Asia Minor.

During the twentieth century, the island with the rest of the Dodecanese, change hands several times: in 1912, starting a converted Italian occupation annexation in 1923, the island closed access to their properties in Asia Minor.

Enosis (union) with Greece in 1948.

The interior of the island, a wooded plateau with spectacular views, can be visited by car or motorcycle on the road from Symi to Panormitis.

Its total area is 58.1 km ² and the length of its coastline is 85 km.

Its population is 2560 inhabitants (2001) and a density of 44.06 inhabitants / km ².

The island is surrounded by many small islands and islets all nearby Nymos, Chondros, Plati, Ghi, Koupi, Megalonisi, Karavalonisi, Marmaras, Pano Nero Seskli, Strogglios ...

A rock is called "rock of St. George," the saint who, according to legend, the rock opened. St. George was persecuted as a Christian under the Roman emperors Diocletian and Maximus.

The island of Symi is divided separate locations:

• Gialos is the main port.
• Chorio, literally "village" is the upper village.
• Pedi Bay is the valley below Chorio, south of Gialos.
• Nimborios includes the bay and hamlet north of Gialos.

There is a hamlet and a large Marathounda monastery Panormitis .

The main town, also called Symi, is located on the northeast coast and includes the majority of the 2,560 islanders who live mainly from fishing, trade and tourism, the island’s population then multiplies high season and sees have more than 25 000 inhabitants.

Coordinates: 36.5987 (36 ° 35 ’55 ") N; 27.8327 (27 ° 49’ 58") E