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Symi island in
Greece
Symi island is located
in the Southern Dodecanese, north of Rhodes
and close to the coast of south-west Turkey.
Symi is just over 13 km north/south and
about 8 km east/west with an area of some 68
square km.
Symi is divided into distinctive
areas - Yialos is the main harbour. Chorio, literally
'village', is the top town. Pedi Bay is the valley below Chorio, south of
Yialos. Nimborios is the bay and settlement to the north of Yialos. There
is a small settlement at Marathounda and a major
Monastery complex at Panormitis.
The interior, a forested plateau
with many spectacular views, can be visited by car or bike on the recently
refurbished road from Symi town to Panormitis. There are also many interesting
walks and guided walks can be arranged through tour operators in Yialos or
walking guides can be purchased from the Symi visitor office.
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Symi's history
Symi's recorded history goes back as far
as the Trojan Wars (1120 BC) and its past is chequered, with a series of
invaders, beginning with the Dorians from the Pelponnese (6th-7th century), the
Romans, some two or three hundred years afterwards, the Turks (1522-1912) and
the Italians (from 1912 until World War II
Symi then became a strategically important
island and was subsequently invaded - and bombed - by both the Axis and the
Allies during each others' occupations. Finally, in 1947, Symi along with the
rest of the Dodecanese islands became part of the Greek nation. At its height -
before the Italian occupation - Symi was a thriving island with a population of
more than 22,000.
It was renowned for its boat-building,
sponge-fishing, wine-making, its wood-carvers and icon-painters and the
outstanding educational quality of its schools. source:
www.symivisitor.com
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Symi today |
 Practical
shoes, a sunhat and
bottled water are
essential, whether
exploring the alleys
of Chorio or
climbing Mount Vigla.
Blisters, strained
ankles and sunstroke
are avoidable and
could spoil your
holiday. A torch is
useful for evening
excursions as street
lighting can be
erratic. If you go
up the mountain or
are exploring the
interior and are not
part of an organised
group, make sure
someone knows where
you are going and if
you have a mobile
phone, take it with
you.
The road network
around the island
has improved
considerably but,
particularly out of
peak seasons, there
is very little
traffic, especially
on seldom-used
footpaths. Churches,
chapels and
monasteries are
places of worship so
modest dress should
be worn. Permission
should be sought
before taking flash
photographs inside
any religious
building. Fires are
a problem in Greece
in the summer months
and cause a
tremendous amount of
damage which can
take decades to put
right so please be
very careful. In a
tinder-dry climate a
spark from a shard
of glass or a
discarded cigarette
butt can quickly
turn into an
uncontrollable
blaze. It is for
this reason that
camping is
prohibited and there
are no campsites on
Symi. |
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If you like me to assist you with your
holiday choice in Symi,
please
send me an e-mail with
your questions and enquiries. I will
be glad to reply and assist you, wherever I
possibly can. |
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