Kastellorizo (Καστελλόριζο), pronounced Kastel-loh-ritzo.
The name is thought to be from the Italian for red castle

Alternative spellings: Kastelorizo, Kastellorizon, Castellorizo, Castelorizo

Official name: Megisti (Μεγίστη, the biggest,
as it is the largest of a group of small islands)

Ancient name: Megiste (Dorian Greek)

Kastellorizo is part of the Greek Dodecanese island group in the southeastern Mediterranean Sea.

Administratively, the municipality of Megisti is part of the Dodecanese prefecture in Greece's Southern Aegean region (periphery).

For further information about Greece's administrative divisions see our page:
Greece facts and figures.

It is the easternmost inhabited Greek island, just 2 km from the western Anatolian coast of Turkey, and its main harbour is 7 km from the Turkish resort of Kaş.

Geologically it is part of Anatolia (Asia Minor), as an outcrop of the Taurus mountain range, but culturally and ethnologically it has long been part of Greece.

Kastellorizo has around 14 neighbouring islands and islets. All are unpopulated except Ro, which officially has a population of 15, and Stroggyli with 9 inhabitants (2001 census).

Greek islets include:
Agios Georgios (Άγιος Γεώργιος),
Agrielea (Αγριέλαια) or Agrelia (Αγρελιά)
Ro (Ρω),
Kalikantzaraki,
Koutsoumbos,
Megalo Mavropini (Μεγάλο Μαυροποινή),
Mikro Mavropini (Μικρό Μαυροποινή),
Navlakas,
Polyfados (Πολύφαδος), two islets
Psomi (Ψωμί),
Psoradia (Ψωραδιά),
Savoura (Σαβούρα)
Stroggyli (Στρογγυλή),
Tragonera (Τραγονέρα) or Dragonera (Δραγονέρα)

Some of the islands, like some of the places on Kastellorizo, are known by more than one name.

+30 22460

Links here take you to photos of the corresponding sights in our gallery.

clear air and sea, relaxed atmosphere and people, good food, great views, local architecture and decoration of houses, Parastas Cave (the Blue Grotto, tou Parastá i trypa), Knights of St John Castle, archaeological museum (Tues-Sun 8 am - 3 pm), Ottoman mosque (used as a small ethnological museum), Lycian rock-cut tomb (the only one in Greece), Moni Agiou Stefanou monastery as well as numerous Greek Orthodox churches and chapels, nearby islets of Ro and Stroggyli.