Pothis town is a great day out - you can get the local bus there. There's a sponge factory (see my things to do tip) and loads and loads of shops. It's a very busy little town with lots of locals shopping and lots of traffic. It's also got a lovely harbour.
Written Feb 27, 2011
Visit the little sponge shop on the harbour front in Pothia and you will be informed of how sponges are gathered - treated and the different kinds of sponges - the bleached and unbleached - elephants ears, which types of sponges are longer lasting. Of course you can also buy sponges there. Great fun.
Written Feb 27, 2011
Address: Pathia harbour front
Just 1km from Mryties is the village of Massouri - also a popular place to stay, judging by the holiday villas and hotels here. According to the villagers the place got that name because of the wind that blows incessantly - 'Masourizo' means 'blow' in the Greek language
There is a small sandy beach but its a bit of a step down from the village above.
We just enjoyed a stroll around here and enjoyed a delicious tuna sandwich in a taverna overlooking the sea.
Updated Nov 18, 2008
Telendos is a small, quiet island about 750 metres from opposite the north-western shores of Kalymnos and is easily reached by a 5 minute boat journey from the jetty of Myrties. Telendros is basically a big rock with a few shops and tavernas and a traditional coffee shop. It was originally joined to kalymnos until a big earthquake in 554 AD. We didn't actually get to go over in our day visit - we though Myrties was quiet enough! The website link below gives a good overview.
Updated Nov 18, 2008
Website: http://kalymnos.agni.gr/The_Island_of_Telendos/Overview/index.asp
Vathis is some 12 km from Pothia and is known as the fjord of Kalymnos, a deep inlet of the Aegean leading into a lush valley with a number of beautiful traditional villages. The location for the village is beautiful, and being hidden from the sea a real surprise. We stopped in Vathi for about hour on one of those 3 island boat trips from Kos so it was lovely to sail up this inlet. In Vathi are two basilicas on the hills above and either side of the inlet. There several cafes and sponge shops - a most delightful village.The village has been liveable from neolithic age and has ruins of Hellenic, Byzantine and Roman times and beyondin its fertile green valley lots of interesting things like caves and old churches from these eras can be visited - although not on our time schedule.
Updated Nov 18, 2008
Myrties is a small town, considered to be the most developed area of Kalymnos but to be honest was a bit of a ghost town when we visited in October. Many shops and hotels were closed for the season, but if you like it really quiet then guess this is a good time to go. The beach was nothing special a bit narrow and shingly being near the small jetty where the boats make the short trip across to the island of Telendros.
Updated Nov 18, 2008
Pothia is the main town and port - our point of arrival on the ferry from Mastichari. Its a colourful lively working town port and marina. The promenade road is lined with cafes and tavernas with colourful houses in the hills above and above the rock. It doesn't feel over - touristic, just a great place to stroll and admire the Italianate buildings and have a coffee. The best views over the harbour are from climbing the street up above the large church to the left of the marina.
Updated Nov 17, 2008
Pothia is the capital of Kalymnos. -nearly 90% of all inhabitants of Kalymnos live there. The town hall is probably the most distinctive building in Pothia. Take time to stroll around the buildings and see the paved courtyard,arcades and clock tower.
Written Nov 3, 2008
Telendos...Highly recommended for total peace and quiet
Catch the tiny boat over to Telendos from Myrties its not expensive and they are regular.
Telendos used to be joined to Kalymos before the centre of the Island sunk
if you gaze at Telendos across the sea from Kalymnos during the sunset you can clearly see The Sleeping Princess
Written Mar 26, 2008
The Seaworld Museum (formerly had the catchy name of 'The Valsimedes Brothers Museum of Sea Findings') in VLIHADIA is open every day during the summer and well worth the small admission fee.
The Sponge Museum (actually 'The Nautical and Folklore Museum') is hidden and barely signposted in central POTHIA, with free admission and an amazing insight into the local history of sponge diving. Closes at 12.30 and does not reopen. Closed Sunday. It is up the stairs opposite the bus ticket kiosk outside the Town Hall.
The Vouvalis House (100m walk from Taxi Square, POTHIA, signposted in the corner near the fish shop) has free admission and is opulent in it's decor and was donated by Mr Nikolas Vouvalis and has been maintained untouched since the early 1900s. Free admission and guided tour only. MR Vouvalis was the most successful Kalymnian to export sponges and also donated the Hospital to the island.
**NEW FOR 2008** The Museum of Kalymnos Antiquities will be filled with some of the amazing finds from the island - which has a documented history of over 6000 years of human occupation. It will be in a building in the grounds of the Vouvalis House, POTHIA, as above. The 'Kalymnos Municiple Tourist Organisation' tell me it is scheduled to open in June 2008.
Lastly - 'Traditioanl Kalymnian House' is an insight to how life used to be - a well preserved and maintained house on the road to Vlihadia around 2km outside Pothia, on the corner where the turning to the church Ayyas Savvas is. Small entry fee, closes around 1400, not Sundays.
Updated Mar 23, 2008
Address: POTHIA and VLIHADIA
Phone: 00 30 6943 566879
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