SAMOS sits close to the Turkish coastline, a large, long and mountainous island that was once one of Greece's wealthiest and now full of architectural wonders from the ancient world.
Unfortunately, much of Samos' unique architectural heritage has fallen foul of hotel developers and cement mixers. In the more popular resorts such as Pythagorion and Kokkari, ready-mix cement seems to have permanently paved Samos' glorious past.
In others, rough Greek edges have been polished smooth and to some Samos may find it more holiday village than Greek village - a meek Mediterranean holiday retreat for the middle-aged.
But it's not all like that. Samos is an island that has something for everyone, from big beach hotels to rustic hill villages. It has miles of sand, towering mountains, some singular scenery, many very attractive coves and lush woods of pine and oak.
Samos is a big island and roads can be wearily long, winding and tiring. Luxury hotel seekers will head south and east while the adventurous take to the west and north.
Nature was kind to Samos and gave the island a dramatic and highly indented coastline that is perforated with long, sandy beaches and small shingle coves.
Inland Samos has abundant springs and two magnificent mountain ranges encircled by gentle rolling hills. Samos is so attractive in places it's hard to believe it wasn't deliberately planted, pruned and preened by some landscape artist.
Samos was once home to some spectacular sights, including a marble paved road lined with 2,000 statues and a temple to rival the Parthenon, but bulldozers have left precious little in their wake.
Where Samos island's heritage hasn't been buried it has been polished and prettified but rarely enhanced, with an often misguided swathe of civic 'improvements'.
Regular summer charters fly to Samos International, near Pythagorio, and there are domestic flights from Athens, Thessaloniki, Mykonos and Santorini.
Ferries sail from Samos Town, Karlovassi and Pythagorio with regular services to Athens and the Cyclades and also links to Rhodes, Lesvos and Thessaloniki.
There are good bus services between the main resorts but Samos is a big island and you will probably need a car.
Beaches are widely spread around the long Samos coastline. There are a clutch of popular resorts along the north coast, near Samos town, and beaches can be found on the south coast, near Pythagorion.
Some attractive beaches are also located in small coves along the east coast but the west has little to offer other than emerging resorts near Votsalkia - Kambos.
The wild, remote north-west coast of Samos attracts only the adventurous.
Samos is the eighth biggest Greek island at 478 sq km and is found in the north Aegean sea very close to the Turkish coast.
Samos is about 43km by 13km with a coastline of 159km. There are two mountain ranges rising to 1,450m and hillsides coated with vineyards.
About 34,000 people live on Samos which has warm, dry summers and mild, wet winters. The northerly 'meltemi' winds are at their strongest in July and August.
