Kasos

Kasos is a small island belonging to the Dodecanese archipelago, located in the southernmost part of the Eastern Aegean, between the island of Crete and the island of Karpathos from which it is very close. It is the ideal island to spend peaceful holidays, both for the beauty of the area and the friendliness and hospitality of the inhabitants and for the quality of its cheeses, fish and other culinary specialities. The island, with a mild climate, has a mountainous and rocky territory, numerous caves and few areas suitable for agriculture. It is surrounded by groups of islands, some of which are uninhabited, the largest of which is the island of Armathia.

The island, inhabited since the Phoenician era, has a very rich and valiant history of navigation and was an important resource for merchants and pirates whose invasions it often suffered. In ancient times it contributed to the historical fortunes of its neighbors, Crete and Karpathos, and according to Homer it took part, with its ships, in the Trojan War. During the Middle Ages it followed the same fate as the Island of Karpathos. From 1306 to 1537, it was subdued by the Venetian Cornaro family. Kassos was later conquered by the Ottoman Turks. Kasos was the first island to declare its independence during the Greek Revolution by supporting the cause with its ships. Kasos was the first island to declare its independence during the Greek Revolution by supporting the cause with its ships. The Egyptian armada burned the entire island and killed most of the population. This tragedy is known to be the first holocaust of the modern era. In 1912, during the Italo-Turkish War, the island was occupied by the sailors of the ship Regina Elena. In 1923, with the treaty of Lausanne, Kasos, which was part of the Italian Aegean islands, joined the other islands of the Dodecanese and was ceded by Italy to Greece with the Paris peace treaty of 1947. The island was formally annexed to the Greek state in 1948 together with the other Dodecanese Islands. Later, in the mid-19th century, many of the island's inhabitants immigrated to America or Egypt where they worked for the Suez Canal.

You can reach Kasos Island by plane or by ferry.
Kasos Airport is located in the center of the island, near the city of Fri and directly connects the island to Athens.

For more information:
Kasos Airport: Tel.: +30 22450-41587
Taxi to and from the airport: + 30 22450-41278 / 41158
The ferry connects the island directly to Crete and Piraeus.
However one arrives at the island, it gives the impression of being pristine, wild and inhospitable.

The island has 5 main cities: Fri, the capital of the island and its main port; Agia Marina, the largest city and also the one with the most inhabitants, located on the top of a hill where it is possible to enjoy a fabulous view of the sea; Arvanitohori, at the foot of the mountain; Poli, the oldest city on the island, built around the hill; Panagia, located on the old port of Emborios.
The inhabitants of Kasos are distinguished by their deep religious faith, as evidenced by the presence of hundreds of churches and monasteries (102), small and large, which anyone can see in every part of the island, and which represent the needs of sailors and of their families to appeal to divine help.

On the island there are beautiful places to visit:

Ayia Marina
Beautiful city southwest of the city of Fri. It has very well preserved buildings, picturesque mills, white churches with blue domes.
In the city it is possible to admire the church of Santa Marina with its stone floor, a remarkable example of traditional architecture.

Emborios
It is the old commercial port of the island. It is located east of the city of Fri. Boats performing round-the-island tours depart from this port to nearby islands.

Panagia
Very close to the capital, it has become in recent years a tourist place with many hotels. The city has old villas, now sadly abandoned, which once belonged to the captains of the island.

Church of Panagia
It is the largest church on the island. At the back of its courtyard it is possible to admire a small church built in 1770 where the icon was found.

Church of Agia Marina
Located in the city of the same name, it is dedicated to Santa Marina, who is celebrated on July 17th. The feast is one of the most important religious celebrations as well as a great social event.

The 6 Churches of Panagia
According to legend, the churches were built due to the presence of fairies once present in that area, and were dedicated to six different saints.

Fortress
In the city of Poli it is possible to see remains of ancient fortresses.

Ellinokamara Cave
It is located southwest of Agia Marina. Opposite is a small valley, Paradisi, with olive trees and fields that descend towards the sea. The cave was used as a refuge by the locals during pirate attacks. Its entrance (30 meters wide and 10 meters high) was blocked in the past by a stone wall with two openings. Inside, ceramics from different eras have been found. It seems to have been a place of worship until the Hellenic period.

The capital of Kasos Island

Fri
It is the main tourist spot of Kasos and the only major port of the island. All the ferries also arrive here. Next to the port for ships is the small port of Boukas, a rare example of an ancient pirate haven.
The city was built by the people of Agia Marina, a city along the coast, in 1840. Currently most of the island's hotels and rooms for rent are located in the capital in whose taverns you can taste local specialties, including the traditional recipe of "pasparas", meat stuffed with liver, lungs, rice and dried fruit.

Church of San Spiridonas
Built in the 19th century, it is dedicated to San Spiridonas, the patron saint of the island. It has beautiful wood-carved icons and a bell tower with clocks.

Museums

Archaeological Museum
It is housed in the ancient town hall of Fri and exhibits epigraphs, architectural elements, coins, ceramic vases and other objects from the finds found on the entire island. Of particular interest is the inscription on a disc-shaped stone slab from the Hellenic period.

Folk Museum
It is located in Arvanitohori, in an ancient residence. The spaces are furnished and decorated according to the local tradition. Various objects of the past for daily use are displayed in the various rooms.

Beaches
Kasos island has different types of beach. Some have rocks, ideal for diving, others sand, ideal for summer sports, others pebbles. Many beaches on the island can also be reached only by sea.

Ammoua Beach
It is located in the western part of the island. It has pebbles of all colors, and is ideal for those who want to enjoy a peaceful holiday.

Helatros beach
It is located in the southern part of the island. It has a natural harbour, used by sailors in the past. The beach is always very protected from the wind, but quite high waves form in the open sea, ideal for all those who love surfing.

Armathia beach
It is located near the beaches of Kasos. It is considered one of the most beautiful beaches in the Mediterranean. The beach is accessible only from the sea, by boat.

Fun
Tourists who arrive on the island of Kasos immediately realize that it is not an island of great entertainment. However, it is possible to find locals on the island that play local and international music. During the summer period, the associations of the island, on the occasion of the celebrations of the Maritime Week, organize an international tournament in which three teams compete, representing the three largest cities (Fry, Aghia Marina and Arvanitohori).
Other sporting events are marathon, javelin, running.