Why Visit
Over the last years, Kalymnos has developed as a rock climbing destination due to the wild mountains in the inland. There are many climbing clubs to offer courses and the neighbouring island of Telendos and also there is an International Climbing Festival taking place there every September.
The island is also a great place for beach holidays. The most popular beach resorts are found on the western side of the island, including Myrties, Kantouni and Emporios. They have crystal beaches and many tourist facilities. Sightseeing also includes a day trip to the island of Telendos with the naturist beaches and the secluded atmosphere. Do not also miss a visit to the Monastery of Agios Savvas with incredible view to Pothia Town and the Aegean Sea.
History
The history of Kalymnos is parallel to the history of the other Dodecanese islands. Kalymnos has been inhabited since the pre-Minoan times. During the Archaic period, the distance of the Dodecanese from Athens gave autonomy to these islands, including Kalymnos, and freedom from the imperial Athens. With the rise of the Macedonian Empire, Kalymnos, as well as the other islands of the group, became part of it.
After the death of Alexander the Great, one of its successors, Ptolemy I of Egypt, took control of all the islands of the Dodecanese. The inhabitants of the group were the first Greeks to convert to Christianity because Saint Paul and Saint John made a stop there to preach their faith. During the Early Byzantine times Kalymnos was flourishing, like all the other islands of the group, but by the 7th century AD, the invaders took advantage of the vulnerable strategic position of those islands.
In the 14th century, the Knights of Saint John ruled Kalymnos, along with all Dodecanese islands, and built the Castle of Cryssocheria to protect it. The Turkish rule followed in 1522 and ended in 1912, when the Italians took their place. When the Italians surrendered, the Germans and the British fought to take control over the islands of the Dodecanese, causing great damages and sufferings among the population. Kalymnos was united to the newly built Greek State with the rest of the Dodecanese in 1947. In the 1960s, the economy of Kalymnos, based on sponge fishing, gradually declined and many residents migrated.
Museums - Archeological
Kalymnos is inhabited since the Neolithic period as many findings witness but the presence of the Mycenaen civilization is extremely highlighted with the well-decorated tombs.
The Archaeological Museum presents the history of the island in various periods hosting a great collection of findings from the prehistoric to post byzantine times. Among them are the bronze scupltures, ceramics, coins, jewellery, icons and rare manuscripts. One of the museum's attractions is the bronze female figure that was retrieved from the depths of the sea in Kalymnos. It lies in a beautiful quarter of Pothia.
One of the few surviving traditional houses of Kalymnos has been turned into a folklore museum depicting the character of an old house. Local costumes, dresses, kitchen vessels used back then, old furniture and a large family bed are some of the exhibits that you can see. A tour at the Kalymnian house is a journey back in time.
The most impressive museum in Kalymnos is the Sea World Museum, found at the center of Pothia. The exhibition gets often updated takes over four rooms including a vast collection of sea shells, stones and fossils from the ancient Kalymnos. The Nautical Museum of Kalymnos is equally interesting and showcases the history and traditional methods of sponge-fishing and other items that were brought to surface from the ancient shipwrecks.
Beaches
Kantouni, Emporio beach, Massouri, Myrties, Linaria, Platis Yialos, Town beach, Melitsahas, Agios Nikolaos, Agios Soulas, Akti, Arginonta, Kalamies, Lagouna Beach Vlychadia, Ton Toicho
Religious Monasteries and Churches
The island of Kalymnos is home to many churches and monasteries that bear witness to its rich history and adorn its picturesque locations. The glorious Monastery of Agios Savvas stands proudly right above the port of Pothia, the island's capital, and hosts beautiful frescoes. Along the coast of Pothia lies the Metropolitan Church of the Christ Our Savior with an amazing collection of frescoes and icons made by the local artists.
The church of Saint John the Baptist is another site that is worth visiting, perched on top of a hill overlooking Pothia. It houses the tomb of Saint Savvas known for its healing powers. A few nuns live in the old part of the monastery. Some of the lesser known religious sites are Agios Nikolaos, the Monastery of Saint Catherine (Agia Ekaterini) and the monastery of Analipsi.
