Symi Island

my home away from home. Symi is a small island, a mere 58 sq km (22 sq mi), and a population of two to three thousand permanent residents. Like Rhodes it is at the far end of Europe, located closer to Turkey than other Greek island.

To offer even greater detail, here the tourist map of Symi island.

During tourist season, from Easter to the middle of October day visitors come from Rhodes for a short trip, arriving in the morning and leaving in the afternoon. The main attraction is the Harbor of Symi. It lies nested and well protected between steep hills which are sprinkled with neoclassical buildings painted in warm colors. This sight is the true reason for the islands day visitors. The sequence of photos below offers different views of the town of Symi.

Symi Harbor from the way up to the Oros Vigla mountain, 616m .

The harbor tower of Gialos (or Yialos) the lower, harbor of Symi village.

The church of Evangelismos (Greek: Ευαγγελισμός, Annunciation) on the west side of Symi harbor, the Harani area of town.

The affore mentioned Oros Vigla mountain towering over Gialos harbors west side.

Church of Panagia Eleimonitissa (Greek: Παναγία Ιεροσολυμίτισσα) or the All-Holy Lady of Jerusalem.

The Harani part of Symi town from the water.

The west side of the harbor dedicated to tourist shops and on the lower left a world war II memorial. Despite its remote location the island did endure German and Italian occupation.

Morning in Symi harbor. Due to its location sunlight first enters illuminating only spots like a stage light and the town can easily perceived more like a stage than a real location.

The time after sunset offers a visibly different color spectacle but equally charming.

Ano Symi, which is nested in the hills above Symi, offers wonderful views at morning time when the rising sun bathes the hill tops in warm light. Half the buildings there are in ruins, the other half renovated and through it all runs a dense maze of narrow cobble stone paths which invites everyone to simply enjoy getting lost.

The islands peak population dates back to the mid 19th century when ship building, fishing and sponges provided the islands estimated 22,000 people with a healthy economic basis. The relative wealth from those days explains todays charming neoclassical architecture but its historic origin also explains why the town is riddled with small alleyways and steep stairways. Around easter, when these images were taken, tourist season begins. Half of the restaurants are open, the other half is still in preparation for the season. The next gallery shows the town up close.

The island offers few attractions outside Symi town. One of them is the St George Bay, which can only be reached by boat because it is entirely enclosed by steep cliffs. The water in the bay is as clear as crystal and not surprisingly it has become a popular stop over for tourists cruising Greek islands by boat.

While Symis economy had its up and downs, crusaders, Ottomans, Turks, Italian, German fascists came and went, the Panormitis Monastery on the other other end, the south end, of the island, has been a long lasting constant of the island. The exact date of its founding is unknown, some speculate that its foundations date back to 450 A.D. Todays building can be date back to the late 18th century, the glory days of Symi.

When approaching the monastery by car you decend from the Oros Vigla mountain which offers you a spectacular view of the monastery with its natural harbor. Some speculate that prior to the monastery in the time of antiquity it was the location of an Apollon temple.

The monastery, which can also be reached by see from Rhodes can be quite busy. I arrived at sunrise long before any tourist while the monks were preparing for the day. The best time if you want to experience the location in peace which is its natural state.

The main church in the monastery, dedicated to the Archangel Michael, built in 1783.

The church is the main attraction of the monastery on account of its frescos and the miraculous icon of St Michael.

Folklore has it that the good saint could be heard sweeping the grounds of the monastery at night. This tale lives on in the form of brooms which are given as donations to St Michael by his worshipers.