Karpathos
Karpathos
Κάρπαθος | |
|---|---|
 View of the port of Pigadia | |
  Karpathos Location within the region  | |
| Coordinates: 35°35′N 27°08′E / 35.583°N 27.133°E | |
| Country | Greece |
| Administrative region | South Aegean |
| Regional unit | Karpathos-Kasos |
| Area | |
• Municipality | 324.8 km2 (125.4 sq mi) |
| • Municipal unit | 219.9 km2 (84.9 sq mi) |
| Highest elevation | 1,215 m (3,986 ft) |
| Lowest elevation | 0 m (0 ft) |
| Population (2021)[1] | |
• Municipality | 6,567 |
| • Density | 20/km2 (52/sq mi) |
| • Municipal unit | 6,037 |
| • Municipal unit density | 27/km2 (71/sq mi) |
| • Community | 3,047 |
| Time zone | UTC+2 (EET) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC+3 (EEST) |
| Postal code | 857 00 |
| Area code(s) | +030 22450 |
| Vehicle registration | ΚΧ, ΡΟ, ΡΚ |
| Website | karpathos |
Karpathos (Greek: Κάρπαθος) is the second-largest of the Greek Dodecanese islands in the southeastern Aegean Sea. Due to its remote location, the island has preserved distinctive customs, dialects, and traditional dress, especially in its northern villages like Olympos. In recent years, Karpathos has gained attention as an emerging tourist destination known for its unspoiled beauty, cultural heritage, and sustainability efforts. The island forms a municipality with the neighboring islet of Saria, under the regional unit of Karpathos-Kasos.
Etymology
[edit]Homer calls the island Krapathos, with metathesis of two letters in the first syllable.[2][3] Other names of the island include Tetrapolis[4] and Anemoessa.[5]
Municipality
[edit]
The present municipality of Karpathos was formed at the 2011 local government reform, by the merger of the following two former municipalities, that became municipal units:[6]
- Karpathos
- Olympos
The municipality has an area of 324.800 km2, and the municipal unit spans 219.924 km2.[7]
Mythology
[edit]Karpathos is the mythological homeland of the Titan Iapetus, and the birthplace of Proteus.[8]
History
[edit]
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The island of Karpathos was in both ancient and medieval times closely connected with Rhodes. Its current name is mentioned, with a slight shift of one letter, in Homer's Iliad as Krapathos (οἳ δ' ἄρα Νίσυρόν τ' εἶχον Κράπαθόν τε Κάσον τε).[9] Apollonius of Rhodes, in his epic Argonautica, made it a port of call for the Argonauts travelling between Libya and Crete (Κάρπαθος: ἔνθεν δ' οἵγε περαιώσεσθαι ἔμελλον).[10] The island is also mentioned by Diodorus who claims it was a colony of the Dorians,[11] Pomponius Mela,[12] Pliny the Elder,[13] and Strabo.[14]
The Karpathians sided with Sparta in the Peloponnesian War in 431 BCE and lost their independence to Rhodes in 400 BCE. In 42 BCE, the island fell to Rome. After the division of the Roman Empire in 395 CE, the island became part of the Byzantine Empire.
Of its Christian bishops, the names that are known of are; Olympius, who was a supporter of Nestorius, Zoticus (in 518), Mennas (in 553), Ioannes, Leo (in 787), and Philippus (in 879). In the 14th century, the island was a see of the Latin Church, four of whose bishops bore the name Nicolaus.[15][16] No longer a residential bishopric, Karpathos (in Latin Carpathus) is today listed by the Catholic Church as an archiepiscopal titular see.[17]
In 1304, Karpathos was given as fief to the Genoese corsairs Andrea and Lodovico Moresco, but in 1306 it fell to Andrea Cornaro, a member of the Venetian Cornaro family.[18][19] The Cornaro controlled Karpathos until 1538, when it passed into the possession of the Ottoman Turks.[18]
During the Greek War of Independence from 1821 to 1822, the island rebelled, but afterwards it fell again under Ottoman rule.[18] In 1835, Sultan Mahmud II conceded to the island the privilege of the maktu tax system; that is, the tax was calculated as an annual lump sum, and not on a household basis.[18] The Ottoman rule ended on 12 May 1912, when the Italians occupied the island and the rest of the Dodecanese, during the Italo-Turkish War of 1911–12. On that day, sailors from the Regia Marina battleship Vittorio Emanuele and the destroyer Alpino landed in Karpathos.[18] With the Treaty of Lausanne (1923), Karpathos joined the other islands of the Dodecanese in the Italian possession of the Italian Aegean Islands.[18] The Italians occupied the island until September 1943, when Italy surrendered. Afterwards, Karpathos was occupied by German forces, who eventually left the island on 4 October 1944.[20] The island was ceded by Italy to Greece with the Paris Peace Treaties of 1947.[21] The island formally joined the Kingdom of Greece on 7 March 1948, together with the other Dodecanese islands.[citation needed]
In the late 1940s and 1950s, due to the economic problems after World War II, a number of Karpathians emigrated to the U.S. eastern seaboard cities; Karpathos today has a significant Greek-American constituency who have returned to their island and invested heavily. Inhabitants of the mountains to the north are more traditional.[citation needed]
Exploration
[edit]Among 19th-century explorers of the island were the British explorers Theodore and Mabel Bent in the spring of 1885. Most of their energies were spent in excavating the site of Vroukounta in the far north of the island. Some of their finds are now in the British Museum, London.[22]
Geography
[edit]
The island is located about 47 kilometres (29 miles) southwest of Rhodes, in the part of the Mediterranean which is called the Carpathian Sea (Latin: Carpathium Mare). The Sea of Crete, a sub-basin of the Mediterranean Sea, has its eastern limit defined by the island of Karpathos.[23] Karpathos' highest point is Kali Limni, at 1,215 metres (3,986 ft). Karpathos comprises 11 villages. Pigadia (official name Karpathos), the capital and main port of the island, is located in the southeast of the island. The capital is surrounded by the villages of Menetes, Arkasa, Finiki, Pyles, Othos, Volada and Aperi. The villages of Mesochori and Spoa are located in central Karpathos while Olympos and the second port of Karpathos Diafani are in the north.
The island Saria was once united with Karpathos, but an earthquake divided them. Saria preserves many important antiquities.
Climate
[edit]Karpathos has a hot semi-arid climate (Köppen climate classification: BSh). The island has one of the mildest winters in Europe, and according to the Hellenic National Meteorological Service, the lowest temperature that has been recorded, was 2.2 °C (36 °F) on 9 February 1976 and 14 February 2004.[24]
| Climate data for Karpathos Airport (Hellenic National Meteorological Service) 1995–2025 | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | 16.1 (61.0) |
16.0 (60.8) |
17.2 (63.0) |
19.6 (67.3) |
23.6 (74.5) |
27.3 (81.1) |
29.1 (84.4) |
29.4 (84.9) |
27.7 (81.9) |
24.4 (75.9) |
20.8 (69.4) |
17.7 (63.9) |
22.4 (72.3) |
| Daily mean °C (°F) | 13.7 (56.7) |
13.7 (56.7) |
14.8 (58.6) |
16.9 (62.4) |
20.6 (69.1) |
24.3 (75.7) |
26.3 (79.3) |
26.8 (80.2) |
25.0 (77.0) |
21.7 (71.1) |
18.3 (64.9) |
15.3 (59.5) |
19.8 (67.6) |
| Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | 11.3 (52.3) |
11.3 (52.3) |
12.3 (54.1) |
14.2 (57.6) |
17.7 (63.9) |
21.3 (70.3) |
23.5 (74.3) |
24.1 (75.4) |
22.4 (72.3) |
19.0 (66.2) |
15.9 (60.6) |
13.0 (55.4) |
17.2 (62.9) |
| Average rainfall mm (inches) | 67.7 (2.67) |
42.5 (1.67) |
32.5 (1.28) |
15.0 (0.59) |
11.7 (0.46) |
2.1 (0.08) |
0.01 (0.00) |
0.0 (0.0) |
4.9 (0.19) |
12.2 (0.48) |
30.2 (1.19) |
71.9 (2.83) |
290.71 (11.44) |
| Source: [25][26] (Mar 1995 – Feb 2025) | |||||||||||||
Transportation
[edit]
Karpathos Island National Airport, with its relatively large runway, is located on the south side (Afiartis area). Karpathos is connected to neighboring islands and to the mainland via ferries and airplanes. The ferries provide transport to and from Piraeus (via Crete and Rhodes). Scheduled domestic flights connect the island with Rhodes, Kasos, Crete and Athens daily. Additionally, charter flights from various European cities are frequently scheduled during the high season (April–October).
Within the island, cars are the preferred mode of transportation. The port, the airport, the main villages and other popular locations are connected by an adequate system of municipal roads, most of which are paved. During the summer months, small private boats depart from Pigadia to various locations daily, including Olympos (via Diafani) and some inaccessible beaches. Fixed-rate taxis (agoraia) and municipal buses are also available all year long.
Population
[edit]The municipality's 2021 census population was 6,567 inhabitants. This number more than doubles in the summer months as many Karpathian expatriates come to the island for their vacation with their families. Also, taking into consideration the number of tourists that visit, there can be up to 20,000 people on the island during the summer months. The population density is greatest on the 15th of August due to the Panagias festival (Dormition of Mary), which is considered the most important festival on the island. Individuals travel from around the world to attend the festival and view the many traditions that still remain on the island.
Census
[edit]| Community | 1947 | 1951 | 1961 | 1971 | 1981 | 1991 | 2001[7] | 2011 | 2021[1] |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Karpathos (Pigadia) | - | - | - | - | - | - | 2,180 | 2,788 | 3,047 |
| Menetes | 1,651 | 1,499 | 1,413 | 1,233 | 1,179 | 954 | 760 | 662 | 638 |
| Arkasa | - | - | - | - | 390 | 394 | 507 | 564 | 540 |
| Olympos | - | - | - | - | - | - | 684 | 556 | 530 |
| Mesochori | - | - | - | - | 357 | 344 | 446 | 371 | 451 |
| Aperi | - | - | - | - | 457 | 402 | 470 | 355 | 428 |
| Othos | - | - | - | - | 282 | 229 | 385 | 281 | 264 |
| Volada | - | - | - | - | - | - | 418 | 264 | 241 |
| Spoa | 339 | 340 | 380 | 293 | 251 | 254 | 301 | 169 | 224 |
| Pyles | - | - | - | - | - | - | 414 | 216 | 204 |
Beaches
[edit]The beaches of Karpathos island can be divided into four large groups: the beaches on the east coast are smaller and gravelly but without wind; the beaches of the southern part of the island, near the airport, are made of fine white sand; the sandy beaches on the west coast are the most exposed to the Meltemi and they are available only in low wind conditions; the beaches of the north of the island are accessible only by sea and partly by jeep.
- East coast: Amoopi, Karpathos Beach (Vrontis), Achata, Kato Latos (reachable only on foot), Kyra Panagia, Apella, Agios Nikolaos (Spoa).
- South coast: Mihaliou o Kipos (known by inhabitants of the village of Othos as "Shell beach"), Damatria, Diakoftis, Devils Bay, Agrilaopotamos (nude beach), Pounta beach.
- West coast: Lefkos beach, Mesohori, Finiki, Arkasa Leucadius.
- North coast: Diafani, Alimounta (Saria island), Palatia (Saria island), Kalamia, Vananda, Apokapos (or Papa-Mina), Opsi, Kantri, Forokli, Kapi, Nati, Philios (or Agios Minas), Agnontia.
Tourism and Attractions
Karpathos offers a blend of natural and cultural attractions that increasingly draw visitors seeking authentic experiences. The island boasts over 100 beaches, from sheltered coves with calm waters to wind-swept bays. Notable beaches include Apella, Kyra Panagia, and Diakoftis, often praised for their clear turquoise water and scenic backdrops. Many of Karpathos’ beaches remain relatively uncrowded and can only be reached by boat or hiking, preserving an “under-the-radar” appeal. Besides swimming and snorkeling, the island’s rugged interior and coastal trails make it a haven for hiking. There is a network of approximately 60 marked hiking paths, especially in the mountainous north, leading to secluded bays, caves, and viewpoints. These trails, some following ancient mule paths, connect traditional villages and allow visitors to explore pine forests, wildflower-covered hills, and even the ruins on Saria islet.
Outdoor sports are a growing draw. Thanks to steady Aegean winds, Karpathos has become a world-class windsurfing destination. The Afiartis area in the south hosts the Speed Windsurfing World Championship (World Cup) nearly every summer since 2006. Top windsurfers from around the globe compete here, taking advantage of winds that regularly reach 5–7 on the Beaufort scale in summer. Scuba divers and free divers also visit Karpathos for its underwater caves and rich marine life, including chance encounters with rare monk seals (see Environment below). Rock climbing has been developed recently as well, with dozens of routes established on the limestone cliffs and plans for more.
Karpathos’ traditional villages are attractions in their own right. Olympos, perched in the northern mountains, is often described as a living museum of Karpathian culture. It remained isolated for centuries and only modernized in recent decades, resulting in well-preserved customs and architecture. Visitors can still see local women in traditional dress baking bread and hear centuries-old dialect and music in Olympos. Other villages like Menetes, Mesochori, and Aperi offer whitewashed houses, Byzantine-era churches, and folk museums. The island’s capital Pigadia (officially Karpathos town) on the southeast coast is the largest settlement and main port, with tavernas, shops, and accommodations, yet it retains a laid-back atmosphere compared to more touristic Greek islands.
Notes
[edit]- ^ a b "Αποτελέσματα Απογραφής Πληθυσμού - Κατοικιών 2021, Μόνιμος Πληθυσμός κατά οικισμό" [Results of the 2021 Population - Housing Census, Permanent population by settlement] (in Greek). Hellenic Statistical Authority. 29 March 2024.
- ^ Οἳ δ' ἄρα Νίσυρόν τ' εἶχον Κράπαθόν τε Κάσον τε [...]Ομήρου Ιλιάδα, Ραψωδία Β', στ.676.
- ^ Homer. The Iliad with an English Translation by A.T. Murray, Ph.D. in two volumes. Cambridge, MA., Harvard University Press; London, William Heinemann, Ltd. 1924: Hom. II. 2.676.
- ^ «Δωδεκάνησα, ταξίδι στον πολιτισμό - Κάρπαθος». Αρχειοθετήθηκε από το πρωτότυπο στις 16 Οκτωβρίου 2008. Ανακτήθηκε στις 9 Ιουνίου 2009.
- ^ Φεσσά, Αλεξία. "Κάρπαθος: Το νησί που ταξιδεύει στο παρελθόν". www.gnoristetinellada.gr (in Greek). Retrieved 2021-02-12.
- ^ Kallikratis law Archived 2018-11-13 at the Wayback Machine Greece Ministry of Interior (in Greek)
- ^ a b "Population & housing census 2001 (incl. area and average elevation)" (PDF) (in Greek). National Statistical Service of Greece. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2015-09-21.
- ^ Vergil. Bucolics, Aeneid, and Georgics Of Vergil. J. B. Greenough. Boston. Ginn & Co. 1900.
- ^ http://textcritical.net/work/geography/10/5/15 Geography By Strabo at TextCritical.net
- ^ http://www.sacred-texts.com/cla/argo/argo57.htm Argonautica 4.1635-36
- ^ Diodorus Siculus. Bibliotheca historica (Historical Library). Vol. 5.54.
- ^ Pomponius Mela. De situ orbis. Vol. 2.7.
- ^ Pliny. Naturalis Historia. Vol. 4.12.23, 5.31.36.
- ^ Strabo. Geographica. Vol. x. p. 488. Page numbers refer to those of Isaac Casaubon's edition.
- ^ Pius Bonifacius Gams, Series episcoporum Ecclesiae Catholicae, Leipzig 1931, p. 449
- ^ Konrad Eubel, Hierarchia Catholica Medii Aevi, vol. 1, p. 439
- ^ Annuario Pontificio 2013 (Libreria Editrice Vaticana 2013 ISBN 978-88-209-9070-1), p. 859
- ^ a b c d e f Bertarelli, 137
- ^ "Karpatos History".
- ^ Antje & Gunther Schwab (2016). Karpathos (in German). Michael Müller Verlag. p. 33.
- ^ "karpathiakanea.gr" (in Greek). October 2022.
- ^ Theodore Bent's Karpathos bibliography: 'The Carpathiote Dialect', Athenæum, 1885, Issue 3011 (Jul), p.48; 'The Islands of Telos and Karpathos', The Journal of Hellenic Studies, 1885, Vol. VI, pp.233-42; 'Idyls of Karpathos', The Gentleman's Magazine, 1885, Vol. CCLX (Jan-Jun), pp.185-190; 'A Christening in Karpathos', Macmillan's Magazine, 1886, Vol. 54 (May/Oct), pp.199-205.
- ^ Peter Saundry, C.Michael Hogan & Steve Baum. 2011. Sea of Crete. Encyclopedia of Earth. Eds.M.Pidwirny & C.J.Cleveland. National Council for Science and Environment. Washington DC.
- ^ "Karpathos and Kasos the areas with the mildest winters in Greece". Karpathiakanea.gr. 12 April 2022. Retrieved 9 April 2023.
- ^ "Το κλίμα της Ελλάδας".
- ^ "ΔΗΜΟΣ ΚΑΡΠΑΘΟΥ" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2023-06-04.
Sources
[edit]- Bertarelli, L.V. (1929). Guida d'Italia, Vol. XVII. Consociazione Turistica Italiana, Milano.
External links
[edit]
- Karpathos Hotel Association
- Independent website for Karpathos
- Karpathian Association Australia
- Ιndependent website for North Karpathos
| Regional unit of Andros |  | |
|---|---|---|
| Regional unit of Kalymnos | ||
| Regional unit of Karpathos-Kasos | ||
| Regional unit of Kea-Kythnos | ||
| Regional unit of Kos | ||
| Regional unit of Milos | ||
| Regional unit of Mykonos | ||
| Regional unit of Naxos | ||
| Regional unit of Paros | ||
| Regional unit of Rhodes | ||
| Regional unit of Syros | ||
| Regional unit of Thira | ||
| Regional unit of Tinos | ||
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| International | |
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| National | |
