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About Kastelorizo "Megisti"
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At
the south easternmost edge of the Greek dominion ,spears out the calm beauty
of KASTELORIZO ,Belying former grandeur
the island of Megisti,as officially known even from ancient times
,derives it's name from the Greek word meaning "largest" because it happens
to be the largest island in a picturesque cluster surrounding.
The colorful capital
and port is built amphitheatrically around a windless bay on the north
western coast.
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The
locals main activities are tourism and fishing.
The town has fine two and three storied buildings,
built in accordance with the local architecture . Above
all ,it provides the visitor with the beauty of an
idyllic landscape and the nostalgia of a past glory. The
islands greekness is
attested to by its buildings, by the simple "ageapelagitiki
"-Aegean-Sea look of the settlement, by the archaic character of
the local dialect and by the spirit of its inhabitants . The sites to
be seen on the island are indeed not few: Two fine examples are the
Palaiokastro - "Old Castle " which is situated approximately in the
middle of the island and once served as both the acropolis and older
fortification of the island whilst the "Castro"- Castle is found in the
south eastern part of the harbor and 200 meters above sea level . In
the eastern part of the harbor there is an impressive stone hewed
lyceum tomb . Both ,of course, are a part of the invaluable inheritance of
the much turmoil historical past of the island .
The Museum
(historical-archaeological and folklore )is housed in a two story building
of architectural significance ( it is privileged in that it has a
preservation order )and is rich with exhibitions from antiquity , medieval
and later times as well as displaying examples of folk art and more
generally of the traditional culture of the island .Kastellorizo
is dotter with numerous churches and monasteries . |
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The
patron saints of the island are Sts. Constantine and
Helen to whom a church of exceptional architecture is
dedicated . It is a thee nave basilica and dates from
1835 . Beside the church is the "Santrapia Urban School " which was
inaugurated in 1903 and built though the patronage of Louka Santrape .
Especially picturesque is the monastery of St .George of the Mountain which
has monk's cells, cisterns and a cave-catacomb with a well and a finely
worked wooden iconostasis. Extremely colorful are the
Easter adoration and festive customs as are the important feasts , rich in
traditional customs. These are the feasts of .'Deakapentavgoustou'-Dormition
of Our Lady ,St. Paraskevi, the last Monday before Lent ,the First of
May, Prophet Elias and of the patron saints of the island Sts. Constantine
and Helen .Of exceedingly natural beauty is the "Blue-Cave ",a huge
sea cave in the south east of the island visit able only by boat and
only when there are calm waters. |
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Karnayo Traditional
House
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