Symi is a Greek island, part of the Dodecanese group, famous for its beaches, the annual music festival and the port of Symi town.
Symi is a Greek island, part of the Dodecanese group. It is famous for its beaches, the annual music festival and the port of Symi town, surrounded by colorful neoclassical houses. On the southwest coast, the monastery of Archangel Michael Panormitis of the 18th century is an important pilgrimage site with a Byzantine museum.
1. Ano Symi
Ano Symi, also called Ano Simi, Epáno Sími, or more commonly Horio or Chorio is the main town of the island of Symi, north-west of the island of Rhodes in Greece. It is situated in one of the most picturesque areas of Symi and was for many years largely abandoned by its people, though in recent years has seen some resurgence. There are many interesting churches in Ano Simi, with some dating from the Byzantine era: e.g. Aghios Georgios and Metamorfosis. There is also an archaeological museum and the Kastro, the Castle of the Knights of St. John.
2. Panormitis Monastery
The tiny village of Panormitis is located southwest from the main harbor of the island, Gialos. It is widely known as home to one of the most emblematic monasteries in Greece, Panormitis Monastery. Dedicated to Archangel Michael, the patron of Symi island, the monastery boasts the largest baroque style bell tower in the entire world. Even though there are other monasteries throughout the island devoted to the protector Saint, this is the best known and attracts most visitors from all over the globe. Its imposing architecture, the frescoes in the interior and of course the mesmeric landscape are all reasons for you to visit.
3. Symi Archaeological Museum
The Symi Archaeological Museum, founded in 1961, is located in the neighborhood of Ayios Athanasios in Chorio, as the old part of the town is known. It is housed in an ‘archontiko’ (‘mansion house’) that comprises an ‘upper floor, ground floor, kitchen, cistern and courtyard’, with neoclassical features added in 1875. The exhibits cover the history of the island from the Prehistoric period down to Post-Byzantine times.
4. St. George Bay
The waters are perfect for swimming and fishing, but the beach is rocky. This location is of exceptional beauty due to the cliff that appears to have been cut with a knife. These vertical massifs at 350 m altitude are ideal for climbing and are considered one of the most difficult climbing trails in Greece. Every summer the climbers camp here and open new routes. The port is inaccessible by land.
5. Church Agios Emilianos
You can hardly call it a beach, as it is a small piece of land with gravel and rocks. However, it is worth a visit to admire a rare sight: the church of Agios Emilianos on a small islet connected to the coast through a narrow strip of cement.