Greece - Korina Miller [453]
INTERNET RESOURCES
www.travel-to-kos.com Comprehensive guide to most of Kos’ attractions.
LAUNDRY
Rose Laundries (Zervanou; wash & dry €6) Clean clothes in a day!
MEDICAL SERVICES
Hospital ( 22420 22300; Ippokratous 32) In the centre of town.
MONEY
Alpha Bank (El Venizelou) Has a 24-hour ATM.
National Bank of Greece (Riga Fereou) With ATM.
POST
Post office (Vasileos Pavlou)
TOURIST INFORMATION
Municipal Tourist Office ( 22420 24460; www.kosinfo.gr; Akti Kountouriotou; 8am-2.30pm & 3-10pm Mon-Fri, 9am-2pm Sat May-Oct) General information on Kos in the office and on-line.
Sights & Activities
ARCHAEOLOGICAL MUSEUM
Cool and calm, the archaeological museum ( 22420 28326; Plateia Eleftherias; admission €3; 8am-2.30pm Tue-Sun) is a pleasant place to take in local sculptures from the Hellenistic to Late Roman era. The most renowned statue is that of Hippocrates; there’s a 3rd-century-AD mosaic in the vestibule that’s worth seeing.
CASTLE OF THE KNIGHTS
You can now reach the once impregnable Castle of the Knights ( 22420 27927; Leoforos Finikon; admission €4; 8am-2.30pm Tue-Sun) by crossing a bridge over Finikon from Plateia Platanou. The castle, which had massive outer walls and an inner keep, was built in the 14th century and separated from the town by a moat (now Finikon). Damaged by an earthquake in 1495 and restored in the 16th century, it was the knights’ most stalwart defence against the encroaching Ottomans. These days you’ll find six resident tortoises as well as performances of Hippocrates’ works in the summer.
ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITES
The ancient agora (admission free; 8am-2pm) is an open site south of the castle. A massive 3rd-century-BC stoa, with some reconstructed columns, stands on its western side. On the north side are the ruins of a Shrine of Aphrodite, Temple of Hercules and a 5th-century Christian basilica.
North of the agora is the lovely cobblestone Plateia Platanou, where you can sit in a cafe while paying respects to the once magnificent Hippocrates Plane Tree, under which Hippocrates is said to have taught his pupils. Plane trees don’t usually live for more than 200 years; this ancient one is held up with scaffolding. Beneath it is an old sarcophagus converted by the Turks into a fountain. Opposite the tree is the 18th-century, boarded-up Mosque of Gazi Hassan Pasha.
On the other side of town is the western excavation site. Two wooden shelters at the back of the site protect the 3rd-century mosaics of the House of Europa. The best-preserved mosaic depicts Europa’s abduction by Zeus in the guise of a bull. In front of here is an exposed section of the Decumanus Maximus (the Roman city’s main thoroughfare), which runs parallel to the modern road then turns right towards the nymphaeum, which consisted of once-lavish latrines, and the xysto, a large Hellenistic gymnasium with restored columns. A short distance to the east, the Temple of Dionysos is overgrown but has a few ruins that can be viewed from above.
On the opposite side of Grigoriou is the impressive 2nd-century odeion. It was initially a venue for the senate and musical competitions and was restored during the Italian occupation when it was discovered, filled with sculptures (many now in the Archaeological Museum).
BEACHES
On the east side of town, Kos Town Beach has a thin strip of sand and deep water for swimming. It tends to be dominated by the restaurants and hotels along this stretch. West of town, Kritika Beach is a long sandy stretch that’s polka-dotted with umbrellas in the summer. It gets crowded but is within easy walking distance from the town centre.
Sleeping
Pension Alexis ( 22420 28798; fax 22420 25797; Irodotou 9; d €40-50;) Going since the 1970s and with little redecoration since, these big, airy rooms have bold, mismatched wallpaper and a very homey feel. All have lovely balconies; room 4 has the best harbour view. The owner is keen to dole out local info and lets you use her kitchen. The only drawbacks