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Neratzia Castle: The most important medieval monument in Kos was built by the Knights of the Order of St John of Jerusalem who conquered the island in 1314. The castle bridge connects it to the town and the Plane Tree of Hippocrates. Neratzia Castle was so named for the bitter orange trees found on its grounds and it was connected to the fortifications around the town of Kos by a bridge that remains intact. The impressive avenue with the palm trees passes underneath it. Neratzia Castle and the castle on the opposite shore in Bodrum, Turkey, controlled the sea crossing to the Holy Lands during the Crusades. Many architectural elements from the ancient city of Kos were used to build Neratzia Castle and their presence is quite strong when visiting the castle even today.

Residence of Commodore Franciso Sans: A beautiful building on the Akti Miaouli waterfront, it is the only surviving secular building from the period of the Knights and was built in 1514 by the Commodore of Kos, Francisco Sans. During the Turkish occupation, it was converted into a café, and now it remains an archaeological library and exhibition space until it can be restored by the 4^th Ephorate of Byzantine Antiquities.

Casa Romana: One of the most impressive sights in Kos is the restored Roman villa. It was discovered in the 1930s when a major earthquake demolished almost the entire town. The Italian administration on the island at that time decided to conduct extensive archaeological research and the villa was reconstructed and completed by 1940. The rich decorations, the beautiful atria, the mosaics, the size and its amenities imply that it once belonged to an aristocratic family.

City ruins, Agora and Old Port: Under the ruins of the 1933 earthquake, excavations uncovered the layout of the ancient city, the public buildings, altars and the residences. Sections of the ancient Agora (4^th-3^rd centuries BC), the Large Stoa and other smaller galleries with altars were also discovered then and remain visible to this day. The Odeon (3^rd century BC) is in the interior of the city with 12 well-preserved rows of seats and arched galleries. Xysto, part of the gymnasium from the 2^nd century BC, is also located there, with 16 reconstructed columns and two buildings that housed the baths and part of the Roman road.

Asklepieion: Dedicated to the god of medicine, and already famous in antiquity, the most important monument complex on the island was built in the 4^th century BC on the slopes of a verdant hill with a magnificent view towards the sea. It was there, just 3.5 km north of the town, that the science of medicine was mostly developed at the school that Hippocrates founded on the island. A large stoa remains, along with a number of thermal springs, the Ionian temple of Asclepius, various smaller temples, the large Doric Temple of Asclepius and the ruins of an early Christian church.

The Plane Tree of Hippocrates: A huge tree with a perimeter of 12 metres around its trunk. It is believed that it was planted by Hippocrates 2,400 years ago and that he taught medicine to his students in its shade. There are two Ottoman fountains next to it. A bridge connects the spot where the tree is to Neratzia Castle.

Kos Archaeological Museum: The impressive building left behind by the Italian administration, an authentic example of fascist monumental architecture, now houses important findings from the archaeological sites of the Agora and the west archaeological area, as well as from isolated monuments, such as the altar of Dionysus, the Odeon and the Roman Villa (Casa Romana). Address: Eleftherias Square, Tel.: +30 22420 28326

Castle of Antimachia: An imposing and well preserved structure, the Castle of Antimachia is located near the mountain settlement of the same name. This is a 14^th century structure built by the Knights of St John to strengthen the island's interior defences. The castle made history after the siege of 1457 when 15 Knights and 200 island residents held onto it for 23 days, forcing 16,000 Turkish soldiers to withdraw from the island. Inside, you will find the churches of Agia Paraskevi, Agios Nikolaos and the ruins of Panagia Eleimonitra.

Settlements: It is worth taking a stroll around charming Kefalos, at the western end of the island, where the ancient capital was located, as well as the village of Pyli with the stone-built houses and traditional cafés. You will see the medieval settlement of old Pyli there, though it is no longer inhabited. You will get a sense of a bygone era at the village of Platani, just 2 km from the town of Kos, where you will find the island's old Muslim settlement. Aside from the landmark windmills in the mountain village of Antimachia, you will find a castle built by the Knights of St John and the "Antimachia House", which is set up at the Historical and Folk Art Museum. From lovely Zia, a settlement built along the verdant hillside, you can enjoy a panoramic view of the entire island.

Beaches: Many believe the most beautiful beach on the island is Paradise beach in the south, with a golden sandy beach several kilometres long. The beaches of Langada and Chrysi Akti are nearby. Many are fans of Mastichari with the white sand and turquoise waters. Still others are impressed by the rock in the middle of the bay at Kamari. Other organised beaches include Lambi, Tigaki, Psalidi, Kardamena and Marmari, which is popular with windsurfing fans. For quieter places, head west to Agios Stefanos and Limnionas, when the north wind is not blowing. You will find clean waters to swim in near the town of Kos as well, such as Mylos and the Yacht Club beach.

You'll find everything you need at the cosmopolitan shops on the island. There are dozens of shops in the Old Town offering jewellery, pottery, leather goods and woven accessories, embroideries and copies of ancient ceramics. You will also find pottery shops in Kardamena. It is worth stocking up on local products like wine, honey, herbs and spoon sweets, particularly a sweet tomato made from the local tomato varieties. In Mastichari, you will find honey known throughout Greece and beyond, while the syrup pastries are also excellent and can be found at many patisseries on the island.

If you want to try some traditional local dishes, ask for "krasotyri" or "kokkinotyri". This is a PDO cheese with a characteristic peppery taste. Its exterior is the colour of wine and it is made from sheep's and goat's milk. Also try the "lambropites" (round pies with fresh, unsalted myzithra cheese and eggs), "katimeria" (fried cheese pie with myzithra served with honey and cinnamon), "pitaridia" (lasagne boiled in beet broth) and "xysmata" (wheat bread kneaded with grated myzithra and herbs). Kos offers a variety of restaurant options, serving both local specialities and international cuisine. You will find traditional taverna restaurants at all of the settlements, while gourmet selections can be found at the luxury resorts. It is also one of the islands with a lively nightlife, with numerous bars and clubs, particularly in the tourist areas of Kefalos and Tigaki, and regularly organised beach parties. You will find many night spots in the town of Kos along "bar mile", which fans out from the port and along the interior roads on the north side of the Ancient Agora. The bars are one next to the other and are full of young people from all over Europe every night.

• Events: The "Ippocrateia" held every summer is the most important cultural event on the island and includes a re-enactment of the taking of the Hippocratic Oath at Asklepieion. At about the same time, the "Dikea" and "Herakleia" festivals are also held and feature performances, concerts, exhibitions and traditional dancing. The "Alasarnia" festival is the main summer event in Kardamena and features chess competitions. In August in Mastichari, you can enjoy the Wine Fest and in Kefalos, the Fish Festival.
• Saint's day celebrations: The feast of Agios Georgios on 23 April in Pyli is a major event that features horse racing, while at the celebration of the Virgin Mary on 15 August in Kefalos, you can try a serving of boiled goat with rice offered by local livestock farmers.

Transport from the airport

Aegean Airlines lands at Hippocrates International Airport in Kos. This large, modern airport features restaurants, cafés and retail stores, and you will also find ATMs, car rental agencies and travel agents. The airport is located 26 km from the main town of Kos. You can go straight to the town of Kos, Mastichari, Kardamena and Kefalos by KTEL regional bus. You can also go by taxi. The journey costs about €30.