Kos
Police: + (30) 22420 22222/22100
Hospital: + (30) 22420 22300
The island was originally colonised by the Carians. A contingent from Kos participated in the War of Troy The Dorians invaded it in the 11th century BC, establishing a Dorian colony with a large contingent of settlers from Epidaurus, whose Asclepius cult made their new home famous for its sanatoria.
The other chief sources of the island's wealth lay in its wines and, in later days, in its silk manufacture. Its early history–as part of the religious-political amphictyony that included Lindos, Kamiros, Ialysos, Cnidus and Halicarnassus, the Dorian Hexapolis (Greek for six cities), is obscure. At the end of the 6th century, Kos fell under Achaemenid domination but rebelled after the Greek victory at Cape Mykale in 479.
During the Greco-Persian Wars, when it twice expelled the Persians, it was ruled by tyrants, but as a rule it seems to have been under oligarchic government. In the 5th century, it joined the Delian League, and, after the revolt of Rhodes, it served as the chief Athenian station in the south-eastern Aegean (411–407). In 366 BC, a democracy was instituted.
Hippocrates - The Father of Medicine
Hippocrates is considered by scientists to be the founder of medicine. He may have been the most important doctor of the ancient times and the best representative of the Medical School of Kos. He was also a profound philosopher and humanitarian. He was born in Kos in 460 BC and was the son of the doctor Irakleida and Fenareti.
According to tradition he was an Asclipiadi and the 20th grandson of Hercules on his mother’s side and the 18th grandson of Asclipios on his father’s side. His sons Drakon and Thessalos and his son in law Polubus continued the medical tradition of the family. Following his father’s profession, he studied medicine at the Asclipio School of medicine in Kos. He studied the patient’s records and therapy methods. He had as teachers the paediatrician Irodiko from Silimbria and the philosophers Gorgia, Prodiko and Dimokrito. At a young age he left Kos and worked as a doctor in Thaso, Thraki and Thessalia.
Pausanias the traveller mentions that at the ancient temple of Apollo in Delfous, there is a copper skeleton which was donated by Hippocrates. Soon his reputation spread all over Greece. It is said he helped the Athenians during the period of the great plague of the Peloponissos war.
According to tradition he reached the gates of the Persian King Artaxerxi but then refused to offer his services. He died of old age near Larissa. Up until the 2nd century AD on the banks of Piniou there was a sign showing his grave. One of the biographers wrote that for many years bees nested on his grave and the honey which was considered therapeutic was used by mothers to help their children.
Studies considered belonging to Hippocrates and the Medical School of Kos are around 60 volumes. The most important are: Aphorism, Diet related to illness, The Prognostics, Head injuries.
Sightseeings
Konario or Konidario
Along the road to Amaniou towards Lagoudi, there are ruins from a settlement from the Othoman period, Koniario or Konidario, which according to sources has Muslim inhabitants. The settlement was deserted in the 1950’s. Today relics have been preserved from the windows and the two storey buildings which are red and achra in color. Today the forest Koniario is a protected forest area which has been transformed into a recreational area by the Municipality of Dikaiou.
Medieval Tower & Farmhouse in Voukolies
North of Pyli in todays are of Voukolies, is a fortified farmhouse from medieval times. From this farmhouse parts of 3 rectangular dome covered areas have been preserved. These areas are in the shape of a Greek gamma Γ as is the remains of a rectangular fortified tower. In the distance to the east of these buildings is a windmill which still stands today. The tower was built using rectangular marble stones from ancient monuments. The domed wings are covered using pointed domes.
Mount Dikeo
Mount Dikeo or Oromedon is the highest mountain in Kos with an altitude of 846 meters. At the peak there used to be an ancient worship ground dedicated to Zeus (Dia) and according to research was probably inhabited during prehistoric times. In this area two cells were established by the Kos Monk Arsenios Skinouris in 1079. Today at the peak of the mountain there is a temple Metamorphosis of Christ the Saviour, which has its’ annual celebration on the 4th of September. Parts of the walls, wells and other remains from the medieval period belonging to a small fortified community may possibly be dated to Byzantine or medieval times.
Beaches
The most popular beach of Kos is Paradise beach, a beautiful and sandy beach where you will find sun beds, water sports and an ideal place for families with children.
Agios Stefanos
Beach is a well organized sandy beach, 38 km west of Kos.
Elia beach is an isolated beach with scattered rocks. Ammos is a long, sandy beach, 5 km north of Kos.
Kamares is a long, sandy beach, 42 km southeast of Kos. Kefalos Beach is a sandy beach located 43 kilometers southwest of the capital city and is preferred by windsurfers.
Psalidi is a beach with pebbles and is located 5 km south of Kos. Approximately 8 km west of the town of Kos you will find the beach of Tigaki, a large and organized sandy beach. If you want to find a quiet beach, you should look in the west side of the island
Hotels
Grecotel "Kos Imperial" 5*
The Famous Class Suites & Villas offer the ultimate in luxury for most demanding guests. Famous Class is simply like traveling “first class” at a resort hotel.
"Gaia Palace" 5* Hotel
Among the blues and greens of the Dodecanese Islands, its gaze firmly set towards the west, in the famed Mastichari region with its cooling Aegean breezes and warm waters, where fresh fish is plentiful and authentic traditional cuisine abounds; this was the spot chosen for the Gaia Palace Hotel to be built.
"Blue Lagoon" 5* Resort
This all inclusive hotel is situated in Lambi, only 75m from the sandy/shingle beach, 2 km from the centre of Kos town, 1.5 km away from the nearest shopping area and 22 km from the airport. This beautiful hotel has got a 1-storey main building, six 2-storey accommodation buildings at the main complex and 3 satellite buildings