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My Favourite Planet > English > Europe > Greece > Dodecanese > Kastellorizo > gallery
Kastellorizo, Greece Kastellorizo gallery 69 of 260
 

Hotel Megisti and the Gazadika, Kastellorizo, Greece at My Favourite Planet

The west side of Kastellorizo harbour: Hotel Megisti (centre) and the Gazadika (right).
 

Mount Vigla (Όρος Βίγλα), the highest mountain on Kastellorizo, soars above the main harbour. It is variously described as being either 270, 273 or even 277 metres high. Perhaps the extra 3 or 4 metres is the height of one of the communication and radar towers which stand on its flattish summit. A chapel also sits up there.

To the west of Vigla (right in the photo) on the lower hilltop stand the ruins of the Paleokastro (Παλαιόκαστρο, Old Castle), the island's ancient acropolis. The rectangular fortress was built of limestone blocks with a plan measuring 60 x 80 metres. It had a massive gateway on its eastern side and contained large water cisterns. At the base of one of the walls a Doric inscription of the 4th - 3rd century BC refers to Megiste (the island's ancient name) as part of the Peraia (community or dominion) of Rhodes (see History of Kastellorizo).

During the Christian era several chapels were built in and around the castle's ruins. Nearby is the monastery of Saint George of Vounion (Άγιος Γεώργιος του Βουνιού, Agios Georgios tou Vounio), also known as the Vounio (ή Βουνιού), in which is the catacomb of Saint Charalampos (Άγιος Χαράλαμπος).

For directions to the Paleokastro, monstery, Mount Vigla and the upper part of the island, see Sightseeing.

The first building on the west side of the harbour is the curious Gazadika. While it looks like one of many small Greek chapels, it is not actually a chapel. See the photo on gallery page 70 for more information.

To the left of the Gazadika is the modern municipal Megisti Hotel, the only hotel on the island. Though not in tune with Kastellorizo's traditional architecture, it is thankfully only two storeys high; and due to its position on the edge of the harbour it doesn't spoil the folkloric aesthetic of the town too much. Its large chequerboard-paved terrace attracts sunbathers and is a good jumping-off point for swimmers and snorklers.
(See the photo on gallery page 71.)

At southwest corner of the U-shaped harbour, the 19th century church of Agios Georgios Tou Pigadiou (Saint George of the Well) is just one of at least five churches and chapels dedicated to Saint George on Kastellorizo, not to mention the chapel on the islet of Agios Georgios off the coast of Mandraki harbour (see photos of Mandraki on gallery pages 223 and 224).

Photos of the church, including its interior and icons, are on gallery pages 83 - 141.

You can see the locations of Kastellorizo's most important buildings and natural features on our detailed map of Kastellorizo.
 

Map of Kastellorizo harbour, Greece at My Favourite Planet

Map detail: Kastellorizo harbour

1 main harbour of Megisti

2 police station, post office, municipal hotel

3 Agios Georgios church, Nikolaos Stamatiou school, travel agent

4 ferry landing, harbour police, tourist information, bank, duty free

5 coast guard, mosque, path to Lycian tomb

6 Megisti museum, path to Lycian tomb

7 Knight’s Castle, Saints Nicholas & Dimitrios, hamam, windmill

8 Horafia, Platea Panagia, churches, Santrapeia school, Despina sculpture,Taverna Mediterraneo

9 Mandraki harbour and cemetery

10 stairs to clifftop view
 

The summit of Mount Vigla, Kastellorizo, Greece at My Favourite Planet

the summit of Vigla
 

Paleokastro, Kastellorizo, Greece at My Favourite Planet

Paleokastro
 

The Gazadika, Kastellorizo, Greece at My Favourite Planet

the Gazadika
 

Megisti Hotel, Kastellorizo, Greece at My Favourite Planet

Megisti Hotel
 

Agios Georgios Tou Pigadiou church, Kastellorizo, Greece at My Favourite Planet

Agios Georgios Tou Pigadiou
(Saint George of the Well)
photo:
© David John
 
The west side
of Kastellorizo's
main port:
 

General views of the west side of Kastellorizo town, Greece at My Favourite Planet

general views
 

The Gazadaki on the west side of Kastellorizo town, Greece at My Favourite Planet

the Gazadaki
 

Megisti Hotel on the west side of Kastellorizo town, Greece at My Favourite Planet

Megisti Hotel
 

The police station and post office on the west side of Kastellorizo town, Greece at My Favourite Planet

police & post
 

25th March Street on the west side of Kastellorizo town, Greece at My Favourite Planet

25th March Street
 
kali matia - good eyes - Kastellorizo town, Greece at My Favourite Planet

kali matia
 

Art exhibition in Kastellorizo town, Greece at My Favourite Planet

Kassi art
 
Renovated houses on the west side of Kastellorizo town, Greece at My Favourite Planet

renovated houses
 

Harbour restaurant on the west side of Kastellorizo town, Greece at My Favourite Planet

harbour restaurant
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Additional photos: © Konstanze Gundudis

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See also
The Cheshire Cat Blog
photo essays and articles
about Greece:

Athens 1 (street life)

Athens 2 (Aristotle's Lyceum)

Dion

Kastellorizo

Meteora

Pella

Polygyros

Thessaloniki
 
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Olive Garden Restaurant

Kastellorizo,
Greece

+30 22460 49 109

kastellorizo.de

 

Papoutsis
Travel Agency

Kastellorizo,
Greece

+30 22460 49 286

greeklodgings.gr

 
Vyzantino Greek Restaurant, Plaka, Athens, Greece
 
NEWGEN Travel Agency, Athens, Greece
 
Hotel Orestias Kastorias Thessaloniki, Greece - The heart of hospitality beats at the heart of the city
 
Hotel Liotopi, Olympiada, Halkidiki, Macedonia, Greece
 
Hotel Germany, Olympiada, Halkidiki, Macedonia, Greece
 
Hotel Okeanis, Kavala, Macedonia, Greece
 

George Alvanos

rooms in
Kavala's historic Panagia District

Anthemiou 35,
Kavala, Greece

kavalarooms.gr

 
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