Next time I’m in Turgurtreis, I’m hopping on a direct ferry to Kalymnos. It’s long been on my list of “must-visit” destinations, and I came across an article from Peter Sommer Travels, which has amped up my anticipation about this Greek Island destination.

Below are a couple of excerpts from their informative and entertaining article over at the Peter Sommer Travels website.

Click on the link at the bottom of this post to read the article in full, and see the accompanying photos.

Kalymnos – Big Surprises on a Small Island

by HEINRICH HALL on Sep 2, 2013

About Kalymnos

With a size of 110 square km (43 sq mi), Kalymnos is relatively small, but its coastline measures 96km (60mi), indicating its complex formation, made up of promontories and peninsulas, bays and inlets: a great place for sailing boats and lovers of remote beaches!

The island essentially consists of four chains of mountains sticking out of the Aegean, separated by very narrow valleys and including the towering cliffs that attract climbers from all over the world.

A main highlight of Kalymnos is Pothia itself. The harbour town, attractively set in a theatre-like formation open to the sea, is surprisingly large: at nearly 16,000 inhabitants, it is the second most populated settlement in the Dodecanese (after Rhodes Town), but it has the feel of a traditional island port: friendly, a little chaotic, authentic and quite relaxed.

Off the beaten track

Kalymnos remains rather off the beaten track for most travellers, especially for mass tourism. Only in one particular niche market has the rocky island developed a prominent position, a place “on the map”: it is considered one of the world’s best destinations for rock climbing.

Lady of Kalymnos

The bronze statue known as the “Lady of Kalymnos”, dragged from the seabed in 1994 is one of the most significant treasures located in the Archaeological Museum at Pothia, the remarkable capital and harbour town of the Greek island of Kalymnos.

Local History

…. occupations have left visible traces on Kalymnos, ranging from prehistoric caves via Classical ruins and Early Christian churches to medieval castles, traditional villages and Italian Colonial architecture.

Rural Kalymnos has many archaeological highlights to offer. The most striking is the veritable plethora of Early Christian Churches. Remains of at least eight are visible in the island, chief among them the vast Basilica of Christ in Jerusalem, with very fine mosaic floors.

 

Click here to read the full article over at Peter Sommer Travels

You can visit the Lady of Kalymnos on several of their itineraries: Cruising the Northern Dodecanese,Cruising the Dodecanese and Cruising to the Cyclades. (FYI I have no affiliation with Peter Sommer Travels, this is shared for informational purposes only)