Samos

The Greek island of Samos is a North-Eastern Aegean Island in the Aegean Sea.   From all the North-eastern islands, Samos is frequented the most by visitors, partly because of its rich ancient history, and partly because of its natural beauty.  The island can be reached with daily trips from Ege Port in Kusadasi.

The history of Samos is one of many wars over a very powerful country.  Many empires have ruled over Samos, but in the end Greece was victorious in 1824 with the Greek revolution and reclaimed the throne.

Samos is the birthplace of many famous antiquities, from philosophers to Greek gods.  The most famous of these are Pythagoras, Hera, Aesop and the astronomer Aristarchus.

It is also an island of great ancient engineering marvels and architecture, leaving no wonder that a holiday in Samos is a sought after experience.

Holiday attractions in Samos

As many of the other Greek islands, the beauty of Samos lies in its natural surroundings, the cliffs, fauna and flora and the fairytale beaches.  It is part of the Greek culture and heritage and many villages were built utilising nature to defend and protect the villages.

Samos has a rich cultural history with preserved sites, artefacts and ruins that represents that history.  As mentioned, many engineering marvels exist here, such as the Tunnel of Eupalinos.  This is an aqueduct in Pythagorion that was built from 529 to 525 BC.  It runs through the hills for longer than a kilometre; 1, 04 kilometres to be precise (1.4 miles) and provided water to Pythagorion.  Visitors can walk through a part of the tunnel which is now equipped with lighting.

The Monastery of Panagia Spiliani, meaning “virgin of the Caves”, is a Monastery that is built inside a cave and is devoted to the Virgin Mary.  There are only two of these Panagia Spiliani’s: one on Samos and the other one in Nissiros. Initially the cave was used to extract limestone to construct some of the buildings; it later on became residence to a religious diviner and then a shelter for women and children during war stricken times.  It was eventually returned to a religious sight during the Ottoman rule.

The Temple of Hera is another popular Samos holiday attraction.  According to Greek mythology, Hera was the wife and the sister of Zeus, king of the gods. She is therefore the queen of the gods and the god of marriage.  Mythology states that Samos was the birthplace of Hera and the temple was constructed in her honour.  The temple is now in ruins and only one of the 135 columns still stands.

Be sure to also visit the Archaeological Museum in Samos Town as many of the ancient Greek artefacts was discovered at the Temple of Hera.  This includes the five metre tall Kouros, a female statue.

Many more of the remains of the Greek history can be found in Samos.  Make it a priority on your Samos holiday to visit these heritage sites for a very interesting insight into the past where fact and myth are combined.

Holiday activities

The most popular outdoor activities are windsurfing, diving and canoeing.  Any activities that include the blue sea and white beach coves are due to be popular.

The archaeological structure of the island makes it ideal for hiking and cycling to explore the island and enjoy the breathtaking scenery.

Accommodation

Samos is a world famous tourist destination and the island makes full provision for the busy summer seasons.  Accommodation for your Samos holiday includes a wide range of venues.  There are hotels, villas, apartments and studios.

The island has two five star hotels, one with a private beach.  While the service is excellent, it comes with a price tag to match.  More affordable accommodation is available making a holiday in Samos accessible to everybody.

Conclusion

Samos is a place that every person deserves to visit at least once in a lifetime.  Here the ancient world meets the modern world with vibrancy and with respect to their heritage.