HOTELS in Samos Island, Ikaria Island, Fournοi Island - GREEK Hotels, Rooms, Studios to rent

SAMOS HISTORY

From the evidence that has been found, derives that human beings have lived on Samos since the 3rd millenium BC, if not earlier. Its history, however, begins at the time of Polycrates, 6th century BC. Before that, history is vague and obscure, mythical folklore being the only existing reference.

In ancient times, Samos, although small, played a trully significant role in culture and politics, not only for the region of Ionia, but for the entire ancient Greece.

THE ANCIENT HISTORY

In the times of Polycrates, Samos became the center of the Ionian civilization. Various important monuments were constructed, such as the Eupalinion Tunnel, the temple of Hera, open-air theaters, as well as palaces, which Roman emperor Caligula tried to restore much later. In addition, Polycrates was the first to establish a library containing all significant texts produced by the human spirit up-till then.

His royal court used
to be a spiritual center offering hospitality
to the top intellectuals of the world of his time. He had created a very powerful navy and his fleet used to be the leading one in the Aegean Sea being comprised by fast war-ships called Samenas. According to Herodotus, the predominant city-states of the sea were three: Knossos of king Minos (15th century BC), Samos (6th century BC) and Athens (5th century BC). Therefore Polycrates had rendered Samos
a leading city-state among the Greeks
and the Barbarians.
He was also the first who tried to unite all Greeks against the Persians.

Following Polycrates’ assasination in 522 BC, many wars took place and Samos was the focal point of the conflicts between the Greeks and the Persians. It was finally devastated by the Athenians under Pericles in 439 BC after a siege that lasted for several months.

In the time of Alexander the Great, and during the Roman period, no significant events took place that were important enough to be mentioned.

THE MIDDLE AGE

During the Byzantine period, Samos, just like all islands, suffered great catastrophes by various invaders and pirates. In the time of the Crusaders, it came under Venetian rule, later it came back to the Byzantines and it eventually fell to the Genovese in 1346. Since Samos was in the focal point of the pirate raids, its inhabitants started to abandon it and in 1476 the last inhabitants fled, along with the Genovese. So Samos became almost desolate with only a few inhabitants living on the mountains.

In 1549 the Turkish fleet came to Samos, commanded by Admiral Khilich Ali Pasha. He was a Frenchman and a former pirate, who after having been captured by the Turks, managed to become an admiral because of his abilities.

He admired the Samian environment and when he realized that the island was desolate, he requested the sultan to cede it to him as a present, a wish that the Sultan granted him. The pasha then intended to have the island repopulated by granting unprecedented privileges to the new inhabitants, who had to be Greek Orthodox Christians. Then new inhabitants started to come along from the nearby islands, Asia Minor and a little later from Peloponnese and Crete and thus the first villages were formed.

Following Khilich Ali’s death, the privileges began to gradually be abated and so a Turkish commander was established on the island, though the Samians kept being in a more advantageous position than the rest of the Greeks.

NEW GREEK HISTORY

In 1821 Samos was one of the places rising in revolt against the Turks. The few Turks that were, at the time, on the island just had the time to leave and despite many attempts of the Turkish fleet to reconquer the island, they never made it.

After the Greek State was established in 1827, the Great Powers of the time England, France and Russia did not include Samos as a part of it, even though it was at liberty. The Samians would not accept it, so in 1834 they were granted a form of political independence, under the patronage of the Great Powers, with the obligation of paying tribute to the Ottoman Empire. This regime remained until 1912, when Samos joined Greece. During this period, Samos experienced a significant economic prosperity.

TRAVEL in SAMOS

The island of Samos has two ports (Vathi, Karlovasi) which consist the two main ports of the island that have mixed character and they serve the carriage of men and products. Moreover, during the last years a new port is constructed on the area of Malagari using National and European Union’s funds.

There is a daily connection with the ports of Ikaria, Cyclades and Piraeus either with conventional or power ships. Furthermore, once the week there is a connection with the islands of North Aegean and Dodecanese through the subsidized line from the Government. In addition, Samos is daily connected with Kousantasi of Turkey with two Greek and two Turkish ships.

The existence of airport in Samos consists one of the most important reasons for the tourist evolution of the island since 1963 there is a daily connection with Athens and weekly with Thessaloniki, Rhodes, Chean, Mytilene, Limnos. There are also daily connections during the tourist period through charter flights with England, Germany, Austria, Slovenia, Check Republic, Slovakia, Belgium, Holland, Switzerland and all the Scandinavian countries.

SAMOS island beaches

Samos has picturesque gulfs and superb bays, with vast sandy beaches and crystal waters, perfect for swimming or relaxing. The endless beaches with their natural magnificence will suprise and charm you, each more beatiful than the next. Organized with pebbles or sand and greenery that extends down to the beach, they will enchant you.
Near the city of Samos are the beaches Gagos and Mourtia. In Kokkari there is Tsamadou, Lemonakia and Tsambou.
In Karlovassi is Potami.
In Marathokampos there
are Votsalakia, Psili Ammos, Limnionas and Varsamo.
In Pythagorio are Potokaki and the Heraion beach.
And in the southeastern portion of the island are the beaches of Mykali, Psili Ammos and Pseidonio. At NorthEast, the beautiful beach Livadaki and easter the paradise beach Galazio.
Beaches that await you with never before experienced delights whose memory remains indelible.

IKARIA CUISINE

The visitor can enjoy many traditional delicacies in restaurants or small taverns on the island. In many parts of the island there are taverns that serve fresh fish. It is almost impossible to describe the variety and richness of the island's delicacies in only
a few lines.
The zucchini-balls
and the chickpea-balls match perfectly with Pramnios wine.
Stuffed delicacies are considered to be the islands specialty. Tomatoes, Eggplants or even potatoes are stuffed with rice and many spices. Additionally, the pies of the island are
well-famed.
Fish are usually cooked on coals while smoked herrings and anchovy fillets are worth trying.

IKARIA ISLAND
Festivities

1. July
- Agioi Anargiroi,
  in Loutropoli
  and Karavostamo

7. July
- Agia Kiriaki,
  in Amirida

15. July
- Agios Kirikos,
  in Agios Kirikos

17. July
- Agia Marina, celebration of the 1912 Revolution in Agios Kirikos and Arethousa

20. July
- Profitis Ilias,
  in Glaredo

26. July
- Agia Paraskevi, in Xilosirtis, Perdiki, Petropouli and Karavostamo

27 July
- Agios Panteleimonas, in Agios Panteleimonas

6. August
- Jesus Christ in the villages Christos, Frantato and Dafni

15. August
- Kimisi Theotokou in villages Chrysostomos, Panagia, Perdiki, Monokambi, Karavostamo and Dafni

27. August
- Agios Fanourios, in Agios Panteleimon and Maratho

29. August
- Agios Ionannis Prodromos, in Mavrato with the charakteristic otcopus rice

8. September
- Gennisi Theotokou
  in Plagia village and Kerame beach.

Fournoi island beaches

The island is surrounded by beautiful beaches with crystal waters. There are large and small beaches. Some of them are easy-accessible and others isolated, waiting for the visitors to discover them.

The most famous of them are: Kambi, Kamari, Ai Giannis, Bali, Psili Ammos, Petrokopio, Elidaki, Vitsilia, Vlyxada and Ambelos. Fournoi is an ideal destination for those seeking to relax and escape from the routine.

Facing Fournoi there is Thimaina Island with its traditional fishing-village and the beautiful beach of Keramidous. In Chrysomilia settlement there is the homonymous beach as well as the one of Agia Triada

Fournoi Island
Easter Celebration

Easter in Fournoi
is remarkable.
There are extravagant customs impressing both locals and visitors.

During the Holy Week on the island there are many preparations such as house cleansing and painting, dessert-making etc. On Holy Thursday the people leave church in the village and go to each chapel on the surrounding hills to light up the small hanging oil-lamps. The result is amazing in the darkness of the night.

On Holy Friday the women gather to decorate the Epitaph with flowers they picked up from their own gardens and at night they chant during the Epitaph's procession.

Holy Saturday Morning, the men exercise the Kladia (branches) custom. They pick up branches and bushes. Once a satisfactory amount has been gathered, they walk towards the beach where a feast is being held. Afterwards they pile them in the islands football field. After the Easter service they light up the pile creating a tremendous atmosphere.

At the same time, women prepare the food which usually consists of rice-stuffed lamb along with many spices that is cooked in the village's ovens. After the service, starts a great religious festivity with fireworks, food, drink and dancing.

On Easter Sunday the men take the lamb out of the ovens and after the meal follows the 'second Resurrection' and the satirical 'burning of Judas' in the village's square.

The traditional custom of the dynamites follows. Young men gather up the hills and as soon as the 'second Resurrection' takes place, on the command 'varda' they throw handmade fireworks sending out the message of the Lord's resurrection.

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