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Kos town is the capital of the island. It is built around the gulf of Kos and stretches for a distance of over 20 kilometres in a semi-circle creating the illusion of an opened fan with multi coloured pictures on a green background when viewed from a height. As you enter the town you are greeted by palm trees reaching for the sky and creating a domed tunnel as well as cypresses, pine trees and jasmines. The hibiscus is ever present (one of the symbols of Kos) and the explosion of colours from every direction completes the fine woven carpet mother nature has prepared.
 Various buildings ranging from Hellenistic times to the more recent Italian occupation which have survived earthquakes and numerous destructive invaders over the centuries, adorn the streets and the castle stands quietly, demanding your attention as its walls imposingly soak up the sun.
Countless monuments such as ancient walls, ancient temples, small sanctuaries, the ancient agora (market), the Roman amphitheatre, Byzantine Churches, hot baths and much more testify to the grandeur of bygone eras. Of course, since then, roads have been widened and new ones have been constructed leading to the beaches of the island which stretch out on either side of the harbour. New avenues of trees have been planted and care has been taken to blend the new with the old harmoniously.
The harbour is lined with small fishing boats and a host of other vessels from flying dolphins (hydrofoils) to wooden sail boats offering magical excursions to surrounding islands and islets and the jet setting top of the line yachts of the rich and not so famous.
On the border of Kos Town in the area of Aghios Nektarios there is a church with the same name (Saint Nektarios) and a small monastery dedicated to Aghia Irene (Saint Irene) which is maintained by nuns. The main income of the nuns is the selling of handmade candles from natural bees wax of which most of the proceeds help fund the home for the aged next door. It is really worth paying them a visit to see how the candles are made and perhaps purchase a couple.
All in all, Kos is a modern town equipped to fulfil the needs of its inhabitants and visitors but the respect for its history and heritage is clearly evident wherever you go. |
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Dry -
mostly cloudy
- thunder; Cumulonimbus clouds, towering cumulus clouds observed |
| Temp.:
15.0°C | 59.0 °F
Hourly
Fluctuation (0.0 °C/hr)
Humidity: 82 %
Wind: 5 bft - S
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01:30 AM
(GMT+2) -
06/01/09 |
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