Whilst many visitors to Kos Town are those people staying on the resorts dotted around the Island, Kos is so situated that it also makes a convenient place for a day excursion from other Greek Islands, such as Rhodes, as well as from the Turkish Mainland where ferries go daily to Kos from Bodrum.
Kos Town has a lot to offer anyone visiting it for the day. The town is steeped in history and just walking around takes the visitor through centuries of history that cannot be sufficiently explained in a text book.
Ancient Kos
Kos is said to be the birth place of Hippocrates, the ancient physician often referred to as the Father of Medicine. Hippocrates was born circa 460B.C. and he is reputed to have taught under a Plain tree where one still stands, although the current tree is estimated to be 500 years old. In front of the tree stands the ruin of an ancient dream temple.
Just around the corner from the Tree of Hippocrates are the remains of the ancient Greco-roman town where parts of a Temple dedicated to Aphrodite and a Temple to Herakles can be found, as well as later, medieval additions to the harbour.
A short walk away is the remains of the Temple of Dionysus, the Ancient Gymnasium and Amphitheatre.
Medieval Kos
Watching over the Harbour of Kos is the 14th Century fortress built by The Knights of Saint John of Rhodes (the Knights Hospitaller). The knights purchased the island from the Venetians in 1315, and they remained there for two hundred years until they abandoned it in the face of a Turkish invasion.
Evidence of the four hundred year rule of the Ottoman Empire is in evidence from the number of, now disused, Mosques around the city.
The island did not come under Greek rule, surprisingly, until 1947.
Modern Kos
Aside from the remnants of over nearly 2500 years of history around the town Kos still has a modern feel to it. The many squares are surrounded by cafes, shops and restaurants where a brief rest is sometimes welcome between historical visits. The food on offer ranges from traditional Greek cuisine to the more standardised offerings of modern burger chains.
The museums offer a modern way to take in some of the history and a number of important artefacts reside there rather than being left exposed to the elements.
The modern Greek culture is also reflected in the Greek Orthodox Cathedral which is just the latest in the chain of worship that has occurred on the small island.
Kos Town is a microcosm of the history of the Aegean area and is a must for all those travellers who want more than just a sunbed on the beach. A walk around the town brings home the fact that humanity has existed for a long time and in that time a legacy has been left for us to learn from, explore and enjoy.
 |
