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The Town Apella Diafani Olympos Traditional House

Distance from Piraeus: 242 n. miles - Area: 301 km2 - Population: 4.649)

Karpathos or Pigadia the capital - is marked by the peculiar Karpathian houses, built of carved stone, full of embroidery and characteristic interior decorations. From Pigadia we shall visit Kyra Panagia, a picturesque bay with a marvellous beach and a monastery of the same name.

A little further, on the northern promontory of Karpathos, lies the Diafani village; on the nearby little island of Saria we see Palatia, with ruins of the ancient city of Nisyros. In the northern part of the Eland there are high mountains full of forests; Profitis Elias is the highest (1140 m.)

From the tiny port of Diafani we shall visit the mountainous village of Olympus, whose inhabitants take care to preserve local traditions. They cultivate their folk art; older people use the Karpathian dialect which includes many Doric elements. The women of Olympus go on wearing their traditional local costumes in everyday life even today.

There are regular routes linking Karpathos to Piraeus by boat, also with Rhodes and Kassos once a week. There are daily flights to and from Rhodes. For transport within the island visitors may use buses or taxis, or hire a caique to reach Aperi, Volada, Mirtonas, Othos, Mesochori, the beach of Santa Marina and the fishing villages Finiki and Arkassa.

In Karpathos we have the opportunity to taste traditional local dishes like "amemoula" (offered on the 25th of March), chickpeas, pilau rice and sweets like baklava. Karpathian feasts and weddings are renowned.