We stroll through neighborhoods with stately neoclassical buildings, impressive houses of boatmen, medieval cobbled streets, narrow alleys and old stone houses. In the amphitheatrically built traditional settlement of Samos, Vathi, with its narrow streets, two-storey houses with tiled roofs, stone external stairs and covered balconies. We wander through the narrow streets of the fertile Kampos of Chios and the neighbourhoods with the mansion houses in Mytilene, the capital of Lesvos. No matter how many times we pass through the medieval town of Rhodes, it is not enough to admire the impressive knightly buildings, the picturesque narrow streets and the small houses. We enjoy the serenity of the landscape as we climb from the Mills of Astypalaea to the Castle. We discover the neighbourhoods of Halki, Symi, Kalymnos, Kasos and Arki. We “drift” into the charm of the preserved settlement of Kastelorizo, with its colourful houses, imposing churches and picturesque streets.
Cheerful island sounds from the Dodecanese, such as the Rhodian donkey and songs with Asia Minor influences from the North Aegean islands, lift our spirits.
The aroma of mastic from the small picturesque mastic villages of Chios spreads throughout the Aegean and blends with that of pine and thyme from the Dodecanese.
Seafood and fish from the vast Aegean Sea, citrus fruits from Chios Campos, Kalymnos saltpaste, special cheeses, such as Kos’ wine cheese and Kasos’ Sitaka, fruits and vegetables, legumes from Nisyros and Rhodes, make up the rich gastronomic treasure of the islands. For the holidays we prepare dishes with the traditional pork, such as Samiotic pichti. Accompanied with yarprakia (dolmades with vine leaves) from the Dodecanese, Samos sweet wine and complete with Platseda, sweet pies with walnut from the North Aegean islands.
Hiking in green landscapes of unique beauty leading to picturesque villages, lakes and caves. We climb the 320 steps to the Cave of Pythagoras in Samos and discover the green picturesque villages of the area. We explore the picturesque villages of North Chios through dirt roads, around the Pelinio mountain. We admire the natural beauties of the Aegean Sea, at the lakes Aliki and Chondrolimni in Lemnos. We follow the hiking trails of the heroic Psara. A network of 13 km of cycle paths awaits us in Kos, to tour the island and discover its beauties. We ascend to the traditional settlements of Nikion and Emporios in Nisyros, overlooking the impressive Stefanos crater.
INFO A remarkable and unsurpassed work of engineering and topography is located in Samos from the 6th century BC, which has been declared a “World Flagship Landmark” and is included in the UNESCO World Heritage List. It is the Eupalinio trench, which provided water, safely and with high standards of hygiene, to the ancient city of Samos, now known as Pythagorion. With the architect Evpalinos from Megara, two crews, starting simultaneously from both sides of the rock, built an underground trench, 1,036 metres long. The crews started carving the rock from both sides and met with remarkable precision halfway.
