With its glorious past and rich history stands on the crossroad of civilizations and awaits you…

Useful Telephones (Prefix 22460)
Town Hall 49269 / 49232
Police 49333
Harbor master 49270
Telephone Company 49289
Local Health Office 49267 / 70659
Citizen information center 70670
National Bank 49054
Airport 49 250

At the south easternmost edge of Greek dominion, spreads out the calm and beauty of Kastellorizo. The island lies 72 miles east of Rhodes, 328 nautical miles from the port of Piraeus and only 2 kms from the Turkish coastline. Its total surface is 9 sq. kms, its coastline is 19 kms and it has a population of 450 inhabitants.
On this small island that beholds a glorious past, you will truly feel you are standing right on the trade crossroad of Europe and Asia, as the Asian coastline is only 2 nautical miles away. Kastellorizo is an island with a rich nautical tradition that explains the noble air about the island that reflects its past glory and prosperity.
Kastellorizo is the harbor and only settlement of the island and it is said that it is the best natural port of the Mediterranean. All of the islands inhabitants are gathered here, in the little districts of Pigadia, Chorafia and the little picturesque port of Mandraki.
The painted in vivid colors two and three story renovated mansions spread along the harbourline, offering an unrivalled amongst other islands beauty. Just behind them lies an impressive red rock that gave the island its actual name (Castello Rosso, Castellorizo). On this little hill lie the ruins of the deserted now ancient castle of the island.
The island has been proclaimed to be a preferable settlement and it offers the visitor the beauty of an idyllic landscape and the nostalgia of past glory.
Due to the lack of any other settlement, there is no public transport on the island. You will visit the island on foot, following the natural footpaths, or by boat, which is a good alternative transport means.
Nearby the island's port there are coasts ideal for swimming (Faros, Plakes, Mandraki) - the coasts of the little islets of Ro, Aghios Georgios and Stroggili are also very nice. For those of you who are visiting the island with your own boat, there is a gas refuels station on the port.

History
The small but historic little island of Kastellorizo was called Megisti in ancient times after its first settler Megisteas. The island was inhabited since the Neolithic and meso-minoic times. Then the Dorians settled there, as they did on all the Dodecanese islands.
The island had its own civilization, judging from the ancient findings, the inscriptions, tombs, walls and the remains of the temple of Apollo Megisteas whose worship was wide spread on the island as well as on the nearby coasts of Asia Minor. For example in Patara, a temple of supreme beauty with a statue of the god was built to honor him.
Megisti took part in the Trojan War along with the other Dodecanese islands and being an ally of the Athenians helped them in their battles against the Persians.
The island was conquered by the Romans, the Byzantines and then in 1306 by the Knights of St. John of Rhodes who built the castle with its tall twin walls and loopholes, making it one of the strongest fortresses of the Aegean Sea. Since then, Megisti changes its name into the foreign word of Kastellorizo which derives from the words Castello-Rosso because of the red colored rocks on which the castle was built.
The conquering of the island continued from 1440 to 1522 consequently by the Egyptians, the Francs and the Turks. Megisti was subjected to the resistance of the Turkish dominion without resistance and in return only paid an annual tax (maktou) and maintained the freedom of religion, language and national traditions. At that time, its merchant fleet had a prominent place among the merchant shipping of the Dodecanese.
Unfortunately a new raid stopped the progress. In 1659 the Venetians seize the island but the Turks take it back. The heroic Lambros Katsonis will free the island in July 1788.
During that period of time the island's merchant fleet was very strong and the little island enjoyed its greatest prosperity.

Free information about Dodecanese islands: http://www.toplink.gr/gr … index.html

Accommodation hotels in Rhodes island: http://www.toplink.gr/gr … index.html

Patmos island: http://www.toplink.gr/gr … index.html

Information about Kos island Dodecanese: http://www.toplink.gr/gr … index.html

Sailing around Aegean islands: http://www.yachtinghomepage.com

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