Despite the fact that Kardamena is considered one of the ultra-modern resorts (thanks in large part to the variety of fashionable hotels, pristine beaches, and vibrant nightlife), there's a sense of history on vacation. And this feeling intensifies as you get closer to the historical center. Perhaps it is the fact that under the asphalt, at a depth of tens of meters, are the remains of the ancient city of Alasarna.
The main attractions of Kardamena (on the map they are located very close to each other) include the Temple of Apollo, the sanctuary of Hercules, the Roman amphitheater, and the ruins of medieval basilicas. Their photos should be in the possession of everyone who has visited the city.
The Maritime Museum is especially popular among tourists, where you can learn many interesting facts about the history of shipping and shipbuilding.
However, most of the attractions from the times of Ancient Greece are located outside Kardamena — 10–30 km from the town (all of them can be reached by bus). We have prepared descriptions of some of them for you:
Asklepion — a temple located 15 km from Kardamena. Its name comes from Asclepius, the ancient Greek god of medicine. According to one version, Hippocrates studied here. The temple was used not only for worship but also for medical research. Local priests introduced Hippocrates’ new methods into practice, so people who had almost lost hope of recovery usually came here. Over time, such healing temples appeared throughout Greece, but the Asklepion on the island of Kos was considered one of the most important. The entrance fee is 4 EUR.
Did you know that the main “feature” of Hippocrates’ method was a test with snakes? For a whole day the patient was locked in a room with snakes, and in the morning he described his dream to the priests in detail. Only after that was treatment prescribed: baths, breathing and gymnastic exercises, medicinal decoctions, and ointment rubs.
Paleo Pili — a medieval settlement located 7 km from Kardamena on the edge of a cliff. A Byzantine fortress once stood here as the main watch post of the island. Today only ruins remain of this once magnificent stronghold. In addition to the destroyed fortress, Paleo Pili features remains of medieval houses, ancient columns of the Temple of Demeter, the Church of Panagia Yapapanti founded in the 11th century, and the Church of the Holy Archangels Michael and Gabriel.
Agora — an ancient marketplace located in the historic center of Kos Town. Here you can also find the temples of Heracles and Aphrodite and the Forum Gallery. Interestingly, until 1933 the Agora lay deep underground, and if it had not been for a powerful earthquake, we might never have seen it.
Fortress of the Knights of St. John (Kos Town) — another defensive structure of the island built in the 15th century. In 1816 an explosion of a gunpowder warehouse almost destroyed the fortress, but in the mid-20th century Italian archaeologists managed to restore its former grandeur. Since 1948 the structure has been under UNESCO protection.
