Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
crowded, with a large influx of Italian visitors as well as mainland Greeks, but in spring
and autumn it's wonderful, and even in winter a substantial expat community keeps
many businesses open.
Visitors who venture beyond the inhabited areas find an attractive island that has
retained some
forest
of junipers, valonea oaks and even a few pines - ideal walking
country in the cooler months. Dozens of tiny, privately owned
monasteries
dot the
landscape; though generally locked except on their patron saint's day, freshwater
cisterns are usually accessible. Near the southern tip of the island, the much larger
monastery of
Panormítis
is an important pilgrimage destination.
Little more than a century ago, Sými Town was home to more people than Rhodes
Town, thanks to the wealth generated by its twin ancient skills of shipbuilding and
sponge-diving. Many of the mansions built during that age of prosperity have long
since tumbled into decay - a process hastened in September 1944, when an
ammunition blast set of by the retreating Germans levelled hundreds of houses up in
Horió. While restoration is gradually bringing them back to life, the scattered ruins
lend the island an appealing sense of time-forgotten mystery.
Tílos, Níssyros & Datça (Turkey)
Nímos
SÝMI
Hydrofoils
& Catamara
ns
N
Análipsi
8
Áyios
Isídhoros
Haráni
Emborió
Ayía
Marína
Dhódheka
Spília
Tolí
Pondikókastro
Taxiárhis Mihaïl
Roukouniótis
Áyios
Nikólaos
Pédhi
Áyios
Emilianós
SÝMI
Áyii
Anáryiri
Maróni
Áyios Yeóryios
Dhyssálona
Theológos
Áyios
Ioánnis
Tsangriás
Kokkimídhis
Áyios
Vassílios
Lápathos
Áyios
Prokópios
Stavrós
Polémou
Nanoú
Panayía Straterí
Ayía
Marína
Nerás
Byzantine
Wine Presses
Megálos
Sotíros
Marathoúnda
Ferry routes
Taxi boats
Taxiárhis Mihaïl
Panormítis
0
5
kilometres
Rhodes
Rhodes
