DISTANT PLACES
Travel tips by Bremen sehenswert far from the Hanseatic City of Bremen
Kos - The Greek Dodecanese Island
A Travel Guide
Kefalos and the Kefalos Peninsula
Beach Road in Agios Stefanos
From Agios Stefanos or Kamari, the road climbs steeply up toward the mountain village of Kefalos. The village, featuring a busy main street through which most of the traffic passes, is the largest on the peninsula of the same name.
On the edge of Kefalos, a 14th-century fortress of the Knights Hospitaller sits atop a hill; like the fort at Antimachia in the 16th century, it was further expanded by the Turks under Suleiman the Magnificent. However, one needs a bit of imagination to envision the massive structure in its entirety, as only sparse remains of the fortress remain today. Nevertheless, even a brief stop is worth it just for the stunning view over large parts of the island.
Once a Knights Hospitaller fortress, today it is the spot with the best view in the mountain village of Kefalos
Large parts of the peninsula are unpopulated and are considered one of the most scenic stretches of land on Kos. Aside from Kefalos and Kamari, there isn't much to see here other than largely untouched nature. While archaeology enthusiasts might find something to discover- the small chapel Panagia Palatiana dating back to the 5th century BC and a theater from Astipalaia (Palatia) dating to the 2nd century BC nearby - one should not expect much, as the chapel is half-ruined with a collapsed roof, and only a few rudimentary fragments of the theater remain. By contrast, a popular hiking destination is the open monastery of Agios Ioannis Prodromos, located about 7 kilometers from Kefalos.
Wind-bent trees on the stony Theologos Beach
About 5 kilometers north of Kefalos lies Limnionas, a small natural harbor with a beautiful beach sheltered by the harbor that is well-suited for swimming. Other beaches can be found on the west coast of the peninsula, such as Kata Beach and Sunset Wave Beach. Here, the sea shows its wilder side; waves crash with plenty of spray onto the much stonier beaches, and many trees lean from the constant wind.
Church on the dusty track: Agios Ioánnis Theológos
For those traveling by rental car or motorized bike, Theologos Beach is an excellent destination. Near the theater, a gravel road branches off, stretching for a few kilometers past the small namesake church, Agios Ioánnis Theológos, toward the coast. If there isn't occasional oncoming traffic, one might experience moments of total solitude. However, upon arriving at Theologos Beach, it becomes clear that it is not entirely deserted, as a large restaurant stands there which is also frequented by tour buses. From the large terrace, you have an excellent view of the sea and the few surfers venturing into the water to test their skills.
Theologos Beach
Those who stay longer can watch the sunset here; however, a return journey in the dark is not entirely safe, as road and track conditions on the peninsula are sometimes quite poor and the potholes can be somewhat large.
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Read more about Kos: The table of contents
Map
UNESCO World Heritage Site on Rhodes
A journey through the historic Old Town of Rhodes
Relics from various eras - ranging from antiquity to the period of Italian occupation - can be found almost everywhere on the island. Many have left their mark; in some places, they must be sought out, while in others, they appear in clustered, fascinating density and variety. Yet, nowhere else on the island are these traces as prominent as they are in the city of Rhodes. It is not for nothing that the historic Old Town was declared a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1988.
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The "Green" Island of Corfu
From the sights of the capital, Kerkyra, to the Corfu Trail
The Greeks call not only the city but the island itself Kerkyra. According to legend, it was named after the nymph Gorgyra (also known as Kerkyra), who was brought to the island by the sea god Poseidon. A legend, indeed. In fact, the name appears in a modified form, "Korkyra," on written records as early as 1200 BC. The current name, Corfu, dates back to the Byzantine era. Once an independent island and later the first Roman province of modern Greece, it became part of the Eastern Roman (Byzantine) Empire after the fall of the Western Roman Empire in 395 AD. On a rocky promontory jutting into the sea, the Byzantines built a fortress in the early 6th century and named the city emerging from this core "Koryfo."
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Zakynthos
An island defined by the Caretta caretta
When searching for images of the 406 km² island online, one primarily encounters a very common recurring motif that has been captured from a similar angle by various photographers over the years: Navagio Bay on the northwestern coast. It's all junk, right? Well, that is a matter of perspective, and there are plenty of those during the season, whether they have a camera or not. The fact remains, however, that the rusting wreck of the motor vessel "Panagiotis" has become a landmark for Zakynthos.
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