One of the original twelve, Dodecanese, Greek islands, rich of history and natural beauty is Patmos. Patmos island lies between Leros and Ikaria. It is famous for its religious past as one of the Apostles of Jesus, Saint John the Divine, wrote the Book of Revelation (the Apocalypse) during his exile. Its mild climate, the impressive natural beauty, the tourist infrastructure and the beautiful beaches, promise unforgettable vacations. There are two main "cities" on Patmos: Skala, the harbour area and where most of the residents live and Hora (or Chora), the hilltop area dominated by the Byzantine Monastery of St. John build in 1088 to withstand pirate raids.
History information for Patmos Island
The island was first inhabited around 3000BC most probably by the Dorians, followed by the Ionians and the Romans who used it as a place of exile for criminals, politican and religious troublemakers. That was when Apostle John came to the island where he conveyed the inhabitants to Christianity and wrote the Apocalypse. After the division of the Roman Empire, Christianity was officially recognised and spread rapidly throughout the Greek islands and the Byzantine Empire flourished as Patmos and its people are culturally advanced. However, after the continuous pirate raids, the island was left deserted for several years until 1085 when Reverent Father Christodoulos was given the complete control of the island and began the construction of the monastery. The rest of the history is very similar with the rest of the Greek islands as the island was then conquered by the Venetians, the Knights of St. John, the Turks, the Russians and finally the Italians and the Germans. In 1945, the Germans left and the island of Patmos stayed autonomous until 1948 when, with the rest of the Dodecanese Islands, it joined the rest of independent Greece. In 1983 Patmos was formally declared by the Greek Parliament a Holy Island.
Museums and other interesting sites in Patmos Island
The Monastery of St. John and the nearby Cave of the Apocalypse, where the revelations took place, are major pilgrimage destinations and popular tourist sights. You may also visit the Treasure Museum of the Monastery of Saint John the Theologian located inside the monastery, the Cultural Museum in Chora (Tel. +30 22470 31360) and the remainings of the Acropolis of Patmos on the hill of Kastelli near Skala.
Local things & stuff to check or buy in Patmos Island
Make sure to taste some of the traditional sweets called 'pougia', which are made of dough and almonds, topped with sugar and syrup and ?apidakia? made of walnut and honey. They can be found in all the pastry shops of the island.
Apart for its sweets, Patmos is famous for its high-quality cheese products (touloumotyri and mizithra), so you may also taste the great cheesepie with tasty past and fresh local cheese. It is one of the islands specialties.
Fresh fish and excellent seafood can be found in various tavern of Patmos. As for shopping, you will find linen reversible weavings, fine embroideries, handmade jewellery, handmade icons and beautiful hand-woven fabrics with traditional designs.
Patmos tourist information
Town Hall : (+30) 22470 31235 / 32278
Health center : (+30) 22470 31211 / 32669
Police station : (+30) 22470 31.303
Port Authority : (+30) 22470.34131 / 31231
Taxi stand : (+30) 22470 31225
Municipal Tourist Office : (+30) 22470 31666
Citizens' Services Center : (+30) 22470 33206
Post Office : (+30) 22470 31316
Bus Station : (+30) 22470 31225
Pharmacy : (+30) 22470 31500
How to reach Patmos island
There are big ferry- boats daily departing from Piraeus (Athens) and the journey to Patmos lasts 9 hours and from Rhodes island about 6 hours.Patmos is connected with the surrounding islands by frequent itineraries of big boats, hydrofoils and smaller tourist boats.
The airports nearest to Patmos are those of isle Samos, Leros and Kos. Once you've reached any of these destinations the fastest way to reach Patmos is by hydrofoil.
* PATMOS LOCAL ADS :
Island of Patmos, as the other islands of Greece, has traditional villages and beautiful beaches!! Information of Patmos island. Patmos island has two main villages on Patmos: Skala, the harbor area and where most of the residents live and Hora (or Chora), the hilltop area dominated by the Monastery of St. John. The monastery and the nearby Cave of the Apocalypse, where the revelations took place, are major pilgrimage destinations and popular tourist sights as well. Many package tours and cruises stop in Patmos and there are frequent ferry and hydrofoil services. See Patmos Information here:
Hora village. This unique village with white houses in the typical Aegean style is the heart of Patmos attracting visitors from all over the world. A medieval village around the Byzantine monastery of St.John. The village is connected with the rest of the island through regular bus transport and taxis or the old donkey path, which takes visitors down to the port in approximately 20 minutes. Chora is a small community in itself, with lots of charming little restaurants and bars, some exquisite shops and small grocery shops.
It is not so easy to reach Psili Ammos, it is one of the most remote beaches of the island. The regular street reaches to Diakofti and then you take the little foot path over the mountain. It is about 20-30 minutes walk.The most beautiful beach of the island is Psili Ammos. The atmosphere here is exotic with the enormous waves and the sandy beach surrounded by wild beauty.No sun beds or umbrellas. A little tavernas serves traditional food. You can also reach Psili Ammos by boat. The boats depart from Skala and the trip takes about one hour.
Nudism is prohibited all over the island but at Psili Ammos, if you are discreet, no one minds if you drop your swim suit. Kambos Beach is perhaps the most organised beach. Several bars and tavernas around, where you can find spinach pie and other delicacies. Sun beds and umbrellas are for rent and water sports as windsurfing and waterskiing. You can easily reach Kambos Beach with the local bus, boat or taxi.
Skala village. All accommodations are mainly located at the quiet back part of Skala or along the sea front. Regular bus transport & taxis connects Skala with all parts of the island and daily excursion boats offer day trips to various quiet beaches and other nearby islands.Skala is the capital of Patmos and the biggest settlement on the island. A charming little port with lots of authentic restaurants, Greek cafenions and shops of all kinds. Evening entertainment is offered through a variety of bars, clubs and open coffee shops.
Agriolivadi is one of the best organised beaches. Two tavernas, one traditional at the beach and one fish tavernas 150 m along the road. Bar/cafeteria that remains open all day.
Agriolivadi is easy to reach, by foot (3 km walk from Skala), local bus or taxi. All the comforts you can ask for exist here. It is a long beach and you can choose if you want to rent a sun bed and umbrella or if you just want to lie down on your towel in the shadow of a tree. Waterskiing and pedal boats for rent.
Grikos village. The old square offers a romantic view of colorful fishing boats and small taverns offering traditional food at all times of the day. Secluded beaches with lots of shady trees and sun-beds with umbrellas in some parts, is the ideal place for a relaxing holiday. An idyllic fishing village, approximately 5 km from the port of Skala, located at the fascinating bay of Grikos with its mysterious rock Kallikatsou which used to house hermits for many centuries. Water-sports are offered for those who seek sportive pleasures. Grikos is connected with all parts of the island through regular bus transport & taxis or old paths leading to Chora and Skala.
Lampi beach is situated at the north part of Patmos. On Lambi beach you can not find any facilities except a very popular fish tavern. The main road leads to Lampi beach, but the bus stops 2 km away. It is famous because of the many coloured stones that cover the beach. Their number has decreased though, they are very popular souvenirs.
Kampos village. The village square as well as the beach offer a variety of good taverns and a small grocery shop supplies you with whatever is needed. Shady trees and sun-beds on the beach give the visitor any comfort required and water-sports facilities are available for those who need some physical activity. Kampos is connected with Skala through regular bus transport & taxis throughout the day. A rural village approximately 5.5 Km from Skala located at a beautiful sandbay with lovely white houses in the Aegean style. An unspoiled piece of nature where fishers and farmers are your next door neighbours.
Meloi beach you can find quite close to Skala (1.5 km), next to the camping site. Because of this short distance from the centre it is an easy choice for your swim. No facilities, but here are two traditional tavernas.
The Monastery of St. John the Divine (Agios Ioannis o Theologos), also known as the Monastery of St. John the Theologian, is a fortified Orthodox monastery on the island of Patmos in Greece. The Monastery of St. John the Theologian crowns the island of Revelation, in Patmos and is one of the most charming and most impressive monuments of Orthodoxy and of the Byzantine civilization. Inside the Monastery the library is located, one of the ancient libraries with a continuous history in the same place where with the list referring to the finder of the library, Holy Christodoulos.
The beach of Grikos has a separate character. Where the first one finishes the other one begins. Grikos is a stretched out tourist settlement that consist of hotels, rooms for rent and restaurants. Facilities as sun beds, umbrellas and canoes exist. It is a combination of harbour and beach. Opposite you can find a stony beach that separates the rock of Kalikatsou from Grikos.
Livadi Geranou beach is a sand beach in the north east of Patmos. Here is a fish tavernas, but no other facilities. In a very short distance from the beach is a small islet with a little church on. It mainly assembles guests that want to combine their excursion with a swim.
The most important gulf is that of Porto Skala that it also the harbor of the island. Looking east you will come across the gulfs of Aspris, Meloi, Agriolivadiou, Kambos, Thermon, Lambis, Saint Nikolaos, Lefkes, Merika and on the west side Hochlaka. On the south you will come across the gulfs of Sapsilos, Gukos, Petra, Diakofto, Stavros, Kipon and Leka. The above gulfs are accessible for swimming and make the best choices for unforgettable dives. Another distinct feature of the geographical partition of the island are its capes that make up idyllic points to enjoy the magical view of the vast blue of Aegean. Some that stand out are, the capes of Koumana, Vamakias, Gernos,Hondros, Livadi, Epsimios, Kalaras and Genoupas. All around the island and within its gulfs there are small islands that emphasize its uniqueness. The largest of them all being Hiliomodi, which is situated in the gulf of Skala. On this small island, the church of Saint Panteleimonas is located and is celebrated on the 27th of June. Further north we find the little islands of Santa Thekla, Saint George, Kentronisi, Tragonisi, Prasonisi and Petra.
Patmos island information by rhodesmarket.blog