Kos: Greek Archeological Sites

Kos island's long and winding history

The Municipal Tourist Organization of Kos Island's website is unlikely to win any design awards, but it compensates for any aesthetic shortcomings by offering useful overview of island life. You can work your way through the entire site in less than 20 minutes and get the scoop on everything form Hippocrates' ancient hang-outs to finding your way to the best wildlife viewing spots. The language does get somewhat fragrant at times; but this all adds to the sites homegrown charm.

Visitors determined to pound the archaeological beat might want to cut their teeth on monuments from the Hellenistic, Geometric and Byzantine periods first. Try the old chapels resting on the slopes of Mount Dikaios, and be part of an Orthodox Christian service if your timing is right and your spirit pure. For more recent additions to the island's heritage, the renovated Aktaion is a remnant of the Italian occupation of Kos, and now houses tourists seeking information instead of marauding Italians(although perhaps both, sometimes).

And when you want to have a hands-on experience instead of just gazing at the past, a stroll in the Old Town will bring you within haggling distance of shopkeepers selling everything form the sublime to the ridiculous.

www.kos.gr

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