Sunday, November 8, 2009
Samos Island, Greece, Eastern Aegean
Samos is a Greek island in the North Aegean sea, south of Chios, north of Patmos and the Dodecanese.
The island's population is 33,814, which is the 9th most populous of the Greek islands.
Samos is the most visited island of the North-Eastern Aegean Islands, keeping, nevertheless, its beauty and calm places. Samos is a particularly green island which, despite the catastrophic fires which burned an important part of it, has kept a big part of it's impressively green forests. Busy resorts, nice beaches, intensive nightlife but also with picturesque villages and peaceful places can be found in Samos.
History
In classical antiquity the island was a centre of Ionian culture and luxury, renowned for it's Samian wines and its red pottery (called Samian ware by the Romans). It's most famous building, was the Ionic order archaic Temple of goddess Hera - the Heraion.
Concerning the earliest history of Samos, literary tradition is singularly defective. At the time of the great migrations it received an Ionian population which traced it's origin to Epidaurus in Argolis: Samos became one of the twelve members of the Ionian League. By the 7th century BC it had become one of the leading commercial centres of Greece. This early prosperity of the Samians seems largely due to the island's position near trade-routes, which facilitated the importation of textiles from inner Asia Minor, but the Samians also developed an extensive oversea commerce. They helped to open up trade with the Black Sea and with Pharaonic Egypt, and were credited with having been the first Greeks to reach the Straits of Gibraltar.
Area
The area of the island is 478 km2 (184.6 sq mi), 43 km (27 mi) long and 13 km (8 mi) wide. While largely mountainous, Samos has several relatively large and fertile plains.
A great portion of the island is covered with vineyards, from which wine is made, including that from the Vathy grapes. The most important plains are Pythagorio in the southeast, Karlovasi in the northwest, and Marathokampos in the southwest. The Samian climate is typically Mediterranean, with mild rainy winters, and warm rainless summers.
The largest mountain is the Ampelos massif, which occupies the center of the island and rises to 1,095 metres (3,590 ft). The island's highest point is the summit of the Kerkis range, at 1,434 metres (4,700 ft). The mountains are a continuation of the Mycale range on the Anatolian mainland.
Villages
The island of Samos has an exceptional variety of villages. There are villages that have been cultivated in such a way that they have become commercial centers, while others are more laid back and traditional. While traveling to the many villages on the island you can not help but notice the ancient, medieval and modern structures that testify to the importance that the island has had in the past and in the present.
Beaches
The island of Samos has some of the most spectacular beaches in the east Aegean. There are a variety of beaches and amenities to suite everyone’s taste. There are secluded beaches where one can relax and enjoy the peace and quiet. For the sports enthusiast Samos offers beaches that are suitable for wind surfing. There are shallow beaches that are suitable for children and families or busy beaches lined with taverns, cafes, and bars that are sure to keep you entertained, refreshed, and well fed.
The Waterfalls of Potami
If you follow the road west from Karlovassi that leads towards the harbor, you will end up on Potami beach. It is a beautiful beach with pebbles and pristine waters on the northeast coast of Samos. If you walk about 2 kms further ahead, you will chance upon a lovely forest full of different types of trees that ends at a small lake. Just ahead are the amazing Potami waterfalls.
The area is undoubtedly one of the most beautiful places to visit on Samos, one that will leave you enchanted, and definitely take your breath away.
Night life
The island of Samos provides an intense and varied nightlife and all kind of places to enjoy a relaxing or crazy night.
A plethora of restaurants, taverns, cafes, modern bars, bouzoukia (clubs with Greek live music) and huge or smaller clubs playing all sorts of music can be found in the capital of Samos, in Karlovassi, in Kokkari and in the attractive village in Pythagorio.
More photos
http://www.lencyka.com/gallery.aspx?cate...
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Travels