We tore ourselves away from the beach and caught the bus to Kos Town, the island's principal settlement. The last time we'd visited we'd chosen a day when all the sites had been closed so, six years later, we were better prepared, checking both the opening hours of the cultural attractions and also the cruise ship schedule, we didn't want a repeat of the Oia mayhem.
The bus from Mastichari takes around 40 minutes and costs €3.50pp. We knew we were getting near to our destination when we started seeing slabs of white marble scattered alongside the road. An island of endless treasures, Kos Town is littered with remnants of its past, and it's a common sight to see office workers perching on Ancient Greek columns enjoying their lunch.
The Ancient Agora, which served as a market and meeting place in ancient times, contains a series of ruins dating from the 4th Century BCE up until the 6th Century AD. Amongst them is a temple believed to have been dedicated to Heracules, a shrine to Aphrodite and the columns of a stoa (or covered walkway) dating from the 3rd Century AD.
Touching ancient history, it gives me such a thrill.
On a day when the temperature was nudging 40°C, that marble was deliciously cool!
Cats, Corinthian columns and The Smiths! Three of my favourite things.
The Ancient Agora is free and open from 8.30am until 8pm daily.
After a restorative frappe in the town square it was time to visit the Kos Archeological Museum, stuffed with beautiful things....including a cat!
We were fascinated by the sandals worn by the Ancient Koans (people from Kos). Check out those platforms!
Cool, clearly labelled and concise, the only downside of the museum was the lack of a gift shop. I'd have loved a replica pair of those two thousand year old rams head earrings.
The museum opens from 8am until 7.30pm (closed Tuesdays)
Admission €6 (€3 in Winter)
Stepping over the fragments of Ancient Greece we walked past the Castle of The Knights to Platía Platanou and paid our respects to Kos's most famous son, the Father of Medicine, Hippocrates.
Behind me is the biggest Plane tree in Europe, the current tree is only about 500 years old but may possibly be a descendant of the original tree which allegedly stood there 2400 years ago, where Hippocrates taught his pupils about medicine.
We ate at Fidelio, a bustling family-run taverna in a shady side street overlooking the Ancient Agora. We ordered the same as we did six years ago, a Greek Salad to share with pitta bread, tzatziki and two large draught Alphas. (If it ain't broke...)
Casa Romana is a Pompeian-style villa of the late 2nd Century, built on the ruins of an earlier Hellenistic house. The humble exterior belies the outstanding interior, boasting an impressive early drainage system, 36 rooms, three atriums and mosaics to die for.
Casa Romana
Open 8am - 8pm daily (closed Tuesdays)
Admission €6
Just a few minutes walk from Casa Romana were the remains of the ancient temple of Dionysus which dates back to the 2nd Century BCE. While we might not be religious, we're more than happy to pay our respects to the god of wine and good times...two of our favourite pastimes!
Worshipping complete, we stopped off at a cafe for a carafe of the Kos speciality, homemade lemonade before catching the bus back to Mastichari where we spent the last few days of our trip swimming, basking in the sun and hanging out in tavernas.
Yamas, Kos! You were amazing! Greece...I'll see you again very soon.
If I've tempted you to visit Kos here's a few links:
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