Samos Greece | tourist holiday travel guide to Greek island Samos


	Samos Greece \| tourist holiday travel guide

Samos sits at the southern end of the Aegean sea to the east of the Greek mainland and so close to the Turkish coastline it could almost be thought of as part of the Dodecanese group. A large, long mountainous island it was once one of Greece's wealthiest and boasted many architectural wonders of the ancient world. Unfortunately many of the former wonders have fallen foul of cement mixers and hotel developers. In the more popular resorts like Pythagorion and Kokkari, ready-mix has permanently paved the island's glorious past. In other resorts the rough Greek edges have been polished smooth and, like sedate Bournemouths of the Aegean, they appear more holiday village than Greek village - mere meek holiday retreats for the middle-aged.
But it's not all bad. Samos has been spared the worst excesses of mass tourism and has something for everyone, from big beach hotels to rustic hill villages, miles of sand, towering mountains, stunning scenery, attractive coves and lush forests. It is a big island though and roads through the mountains long, winding and tiring, so many visitors choose their resort and stay there. Most hotel dwellers are found in the south and east while the more adventurous will head west and north.

Overview

Nature was kind to the 184 square miles of Samos with its dramatic and highly indented coastline attractively perforated by long sand beaches and small shingle coves.
Inland there are abundant water springs and two magnificent mountain ranges encircled by green and gentle rolling hills. So attractive is it in places it's hard to believe it hasn't been deliberately planted, pruned and preened by some unseen hand.
Samos was once home to some spectacular sights including a 7km marble paved road lined with 2,000 statues and a temple magnificent enough to rival the Parthenon, but bulldozers and hotel builders have left relatively little behind to enjoy
In some resorts few rough edges have been left unpolished in sometimes misguided series of civic 'improvements'. Much of the island heritage has been buried or prettified, and rarely enhanced.

Aegean map

Youtravel has some good 2008 deals on holidays in Samos Town, Kokkari, Pythgorian, Kambos, Karlovassi and more

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Samos Town

Blue flag beach

READERS RECOMMEND

Best eating

Alvi, Apovadro, Christos, Dias, Kolami, Steps, Zens

Noted for its beauty when approached from the sea, SAMOS TOWN sits along the shore at the end of a long horseshoe bay. Pastel houses and weathered red tile roofs tier down the dark green hillside to a long and deep waterfront promenade. On landing, the beauty fades quicker than your tan. The wide and 1km long waterfront turns out to be nothing but a noisy snarl of tourist shops and tavernas, noteworthy for little else than tacky decor, measly portions and high prices. Just behind the waterfront is a steep rise of streets. They are full of hotels, mostly block-booked by package tour operators. Samos is a provincial town of some 6,000 people but with surprising little to offer given its size. In the middle of the waterfront is the main square guarded by an imposing stone lion and full of tree-shaded cafes. Further inland a tiny but attractive municipal gardens has many varieties of flowers and a small cafe.
The town's main point of interest lies nearby at an exceptionally good archaeological museum. Exhibits are arranged in two buildings. The modern one was specially constructed to house the largest surviving example of a kouros statue. It stands 5m tall and dates from 575BC. The older building has many ancient Egyptian, Turkish, Cypriot and Syrian artifacts testifying to Samos' ancient trading wealth. Most notable are a dozen or so bronze griffin heads. All the exhibits are well displayed with good explanations in English.
There is also a Byzantine museum in the Bishop's Palace which, while not as arresting, is still worth a visit to see the icons, some 18th century silver bibles and a bizarre cast of St George's footprint.
The road south out of Samos town heads off to the hillside village of ANO VATHI. In Samos town's heyday as a tobacco port Ano Vathi was a pirate refuge and the town below is sometimes, though rarely, still referred to as Vathi. The two were once quite separate but there is not much to divide them now except for the visual appeal of the hill town.
The bottom of the hill is marked by a bunch of lively and atmospheric tavernas well worth a visit, though the recent arrival of a clutch of package holiday hotels nearby may soon put an end to the atmosphere. The higher you climb the more picturesque it gets as narrow streets thread their way between fine neo-classical houses and a few, sadly neglected, medieval churches.

Samos Town

Samos harbour

Kouros



		Around Samos Town

Gagou

READERS RECOMMEND

Best eating

Verginia

Samos town withers away along the promontory to the upmarket Kalami suburbs where most holiday accommodation is found above the thin and mediocre town beach at GAGOU. There is a narrow atrip of sand and shingle and a few descent restaurants. It's main advantage is the quiet atmosphere - such a contrast to noisy Samos Town yet within walking distance.

Gagou


		Ano Vathi
		The road north out of Samos town ends up at the pretty bay and chapel of AGIA PARASKEVI. There is a small pebble beach and fishing jetty and a couple of tavernas that have live Greek music most weekends. The countryside around here is also known for the wide variety of butterflies.


		Agia Paraskevi
		The road north out of Samos town ends up at the pretty bay and chapel of AGIA PARASKEVI. There is a small pebble beach and fishing jetty and a couple of tavernas that have live Greek music most weekends. The countryside around here is also known for the wide variety of butterflies.


		Paleokastro
		The road past Ano Vathi leads to the scruffy hilltop village of PALAEOKASTRO where there is a bakery, a small shop and some decent out-of-town tavernas that are well worth a visit in the evenings.


		Mourtia
		. A left turn off the road south from Samos town leads to the village of KAMARA where there are some basic tavernas and from there it is a steep climb to the 18th century monastery of ZOODHOKOS PIGI set in thick woods on sea cliffs above the fishing hamlet of MOURTIA and with outstanding views across the straits to the Turkish coast. There are small, deserted coves to be found and the water is particularly clear. A great place for a picnic but there are no organised facilities here. There are two beaches nearby known as 'Large Laka and Small Laka that can be reached on foot.

Kerveli

Tracks lead down to the small, quiet and strikingly pretty KERVELI where a line of shady tamarisks line the shingle beach, though behind them is a crop of ugly squat apartments that unfortunately spoil the view inland. This is a secluded spot and a car is needed unless you intend to crash out on the beach every day. There are some fine walks to be had in the area with a few good tavernas to relax in at night.

Kerveli visitor reviews

Kerveli


		Planakia
		Nearby is the larger but more mediocre stone covered beach at PLATANAKIA. The resort takes its name from its splendid plane trees that are found in the area. The beach is stone and shingle backed by a cement harbour wall. Pebbles drop sharply into the sea. The resort has a handful of lively tavernas used by package tour companies for 'Greek Nights'.	Planakia


		Posidhonio
		Further south is a sheltered cove and fishing hamlet at POSIDHONIO with another unattractive shingle beach, some average tavernas, a few run-down fisherman's houses and, bizarrely, a couple of tennis courts.


		Psili Amos (East)
		Further east things pick up at the attractive sandy cove at PSILI AMMOS where there are a clutch of good tavernas. However, the splendid beach soon fills up with day trippers from Samos town and the place gets very crowded when the excursion boats arrive. Watersports are popular here but there are strong offshore currents in the straits and notices warn of danger if you stray too far from land. There is an area of salt marsh and a lake, which dries out in the summer. This is a good bird spotting area and flamingos can be seen early in the season.	Psili Ammos


		Mykali
		The neighbouring kilometre of windswept sand and shingle at MYKALI has attracted three large package holiday hotels despite the area being a protected nature reserve where storks, herons and flamingos are frequent winter visitors. The beach is stony but turns to sand under the water.



		South Samos

Pythagorio

READERS RECOMMEND

Best eating

Anna's Garden, Esperides, Faros, La Strada, Nereades. Pythagorio, Pine Tree , Riva, Symposium, Verena, Viva

Tarted up for middle market tourist tastes PYTHGORIO is about as Greek as a Sandals' holiday village. Renamed in 1955 to honour its most famous native son Pythagoras it was originally called Tigani, Greek for frying pan. The name almost certainly refers to the shape of the harbour than the summer temperatures, though the south facing port will sizzle in July. Cobbled streets and walled mansions make up the village centre while the waterfront is an uninterrupted queue of tavernas, bars and cafes all crammed with tourists paying heavily over the odds. Despite the crowds and a twee harbour heaving with fishing boats and leisure craft, Pythgorio still manages a relaxed atmosphere, helping to make it the island's premier resort for the past 30 years. Once a big tobacco growing area it turned to olives but today there are more tourists than trees. The place is mercifully free of English 'yoof' but buser services are poor and you must travel via Samos town.
There is a museum, disappointing given the local archaeological heritage, which has some sculptures, ancient statues, Roman busts and some 6th century BC grave reliefs. Unfortunately a large number of finds seem to be hidden way in storerooms so you won't get to see them. A not very imposing 19th century Logothetis castle sits on a hill to the south west, built mostly with stone pilfered from ancient temple sites.
A spread of big hotels is parked well down the beach taking advantage of the huge swathe of coarse sand and shingle that stretches westward for several kilometres and is overflown by aircraft coming in to land at the nearby airport.

Pythgorio

Logothetis Castle

Holidays in PYTHAGORION: Manos


		Potokaki
		About 4km away at POTOKAKI, a hefty clutch of holiday hotels hug the shore. They include the weird Doryssa hotel complex of air conditioned bungalows all laid out like a fake Greek village, complete with street names and artificial village square. The only thing authentic are the prices and the low flying airliners. But the sand and pebble beach is attractive enough, though the hotels ensure it is rarely uncrowded and sun beds are laid out in regimented rows over every spare patch of decent sand. If you are the hotel-pool-beach type of tourist this could well be your cup of tea. I would rather eat my own brains with a wooden spoon. Pototaki visitor reviews	Potokaki

Ireon

READERS RECOMMEND

Best eating

Agrokali, Vuros, Yannis

Once a tiny, dust blown fishing hamlet, IREON is now a minor resort with a small gaggle of hotels and tavernas. Large hotel building is prohibited so this is a relatively quiet spot if you can ignore the roar from the nearby airport. The long sandy beach gets scruffy and stony in parts and new buildings have failed to shake off an edge-of-the-world atmosphere. But there are good tavernas backing the beach and locals here are especially welcoming. The place has a relaxed feel you can soon get used to. Many wander along here to escape busy Pythagorio.


		Tsopela
		South of Ireon along a rough dirt track is the scenic sand and shingle cove at TSOPELA which sits at a the mouth of a quite magnificent gorge and sports a beach cantina and sun beds in the summer months. It also attracts a good many boats in the high season. Inland the countryside still bears the scars of the forest fires though every year they lessen and there are still quite a umber of hillside villages worth a visit. MYLI owes it's name to the many watermills that were once here. They have gone, but the thick lemon groves and cool streams are still there to enjoy. CHORA was a capital of Samos until the 1850s and it is still a lively place with plenty of good tavernas.	Tsopela


		Mytilini
		At nearby MYTILINI is Greece's only palaeontology museum, housed in the village hall and containing fossilised remains of a large prehistoric giraffe-like creature believed to have died out around 10m years ago. Other exhibits include the skulls and teeth of prehistoric hippos and lions and what claims to be the fossilised brain of a 13m year old horse. Not really what you expect to find in a Greek hillside village but there it is.	Bones at Mytilini


		Pyrgos
		Below Myli sprawls the large hillside village of PAGONDAS with an even larger public fountain in the majestic main square. A scenic road around the mountain passes through SPATHAREI which still offers some of the best views on Samos. Almost lost in the pines and at the head of a huge ravine is the village of PYRGOS, the centre of the island's honey production.


		Koutsi
		Heading down to the coast again is KOUTSI where shady plane trees, mountain streams and good tavernas would make an excellent spot to cool down on a hot summer's day, were it not for package tour companies who have also 'discovered' it and now make the chance of an empty table and a quiet meal a remote possibility.


		Ormos Marathokambos
		The coastline opposite the islet of Samiopoula is wild and relatively inaccessible until you reach the well shaded beach at VALLOS, also known as ORMOS KOMEIKON, which has a long bay of pebble with occasional breaks of sand. Its relative remoteness makes it a favourite with naturists and there are a few apartments and couple of small tavernas. A few kilometres west is the fast emerging tourist resort of ORMOS MARATHOKAMBOS. It's a working village, busy but friendly with a good range of tavernas. The beach is as stony as it is undistinguished but it has a relaxing little port. There are some small coves to the west if you prefer sand. Above all, it has more Greek atmosphere than most of the other resorts put together and is a pleasant place to enjoy a relaxed sunset meal. Above lies the lovely village of MARATHOKAMBOS perched among the vineyards and overlooking a steep valley. A word of warning - park your car on the outskirts of the village. The streets are so narrow you will have to reverse your way out.	Ormos Marathokambos Marathokambos

Kambos - Votsalakia

Cash machine Votsalakia Hotel

READERS RECOMMEND

Best eating

Angelos, Bonita, Evinos, Kostas, Muses, Nostos, Ostria, Rinas

The island's longest beach is found at KAMBOS, also known as VOTSALAKIA. The beach of fine sand and a few stones is most attractive though it turns to shingle in the sea and is marred by an ugly and sprawling tourist resort that has grown up behind it. The saving grace is the glorious backdrop of Mt. Kerkis and when the beach gets crowded which is not too often, they give every reason to go hiking off into the surrounding countryside where there are many fine walks. There is a good range of the usual shops in the resort and plenty of bars, all low key and closing around 1am.

Votsalakia

Holidays in KAMBOS: Manos

Photo Gallery

Psili Ammos (West)

A little further west is another PSILI AMMOS, less crowded than its more popular namesake in the east and another favourite with the naturists. The shore shelves gently into the sea from the fine sand and shingle beach and high cliffs behind offer shelter and seclusion. However, a fair sized apartment complex has sprung up in recent years and they charge far more for sun beds than is usual.

Psili Ammos

Photo Gallery


		Limnionas
		Beyond Psili Ammos is the small sheltered cove of LIMNIONAS. Smart villas are dotted about the hills and the faintly preposterous Samos Yacht Club (given there is never a yachts to be seen) gives the place a sniffy upmarket air. Nevertheless it is a quiet unassuming place. Rocks shelves gently down to the shore and into the sea but beyond them the swimming is good



		North Samos

		Seitani
		The western coastline of Samos is wild, remote and dominated by Mt. Kerkis, the island's highest mountain at 1,473 metres. There is a neat but uninteresting farming village at KALLITHEA and small cove beyond at VARSAMO, signposted from the road down a rough dirt track. The beach has multicoloured pebbles formed from volcanic ash, a couple of small caves and a beach cantina in the summer. The road runs out at the village of DHRAKEI but tracks lead down to a couple of wild and beautiful beaches on the north facing coast. This area is a refuge for the rare Mediterranean Seal Monachus Monachus, the protection of which has done much to help preserve the area's outstanding natural beauty. The first of the wild beaches is MEGALO SEITANI which, as the name suggests, is the larger of the two. It is also the more dramatic, sitting at the mouth of the Kakoperato Gorge, and the more popular because of its calmer waters. The next bay hosts MIKRI SEITANI a small sand and pebble cove, windier and more exposed but still protected by rock outcrops. Nearby is the 11th century Byzantine Church of the Transfiguration.	Mikri Seitani


		Potami
		The major beach resort here lies a little further east at POTAMI. An excellent sweep of sand and pebble is well shaded by trees which also provide welcome cover for several good tavernas nestling in the shrubbery. The proximity of the large town of Karlovassi means the beach can get crowded in the high season and at weekends. Inland is an area well known for rock pools, waterfalls and tour buses. A sequence of bitterly cold pools tumble down the hillside. If you don't mind being frozen then by all means wade into them but you have been warned. The track following the pools eventually leads to the 11th century church of Metamorfis believed to be the oldest on Samos and beyond that a narrow and precipitous path leads to a small Byzantine fortress whose poor condition makes it hardly worth a look but does offer splendid views back down the valley. Back on the coast is the dull beach resort of LIMANI whose popularity owes much to the proximity of the major town of Karlovassi next door.	Potami


		Karlovassi
		The island's second largest town of KARLOVASSI is much overshadowed by the other island resorts of Samos town and Pythagorio. It is also less obviously attractive, though far more peaceful and a good base for exploring the fine beaches along this part of the coast. More a cluster of villages than a town it can be roughly divided into four parts each with its own character but all spotted with some of the most absurdly large churches I have ever seen. The busy waterfront is lined with tavernas and bars and has all the trappings of a rapidly growing resort. The town beach is a poor affair and can get very crowded. The new district (Neo Karlovassi) is an untidy mess derelict factories and warehouses - a hangover from the days when the town was a major industrial tanning centre and worth a look if you are interested in industrial archaeology. It is a bustling urban centre of shops, schools, libraries and a medical centre. The middle district (Meleo Karlovassi) is a sprawling suburb of modern housing redeemed in part by a fine attractive main square with a huge fountain and good restaurants perched beneath the shady trees. The old district (Paleo Karlovassi) is furthest inland and a picture postcard village where delightful old red-tiled houses horseshoe around the end of a lovely valley.	Karlovassi


		Agios Nikolaos
		East of Karlovassi is a long stretch of attractive but fairly inaccessible coastline dotted with a few minor resorts. AGIOS NIKOLAOS is a small fishing port now 'discovered' and peppered with new apartments. It is still a very attractive place however and has a couple of excellent fish tavernas.	Agios Nikolaos


		Agios Konstantinos
		Further along the coast is AGIOS KONSTANTINOS, a pretty coastal village sadly marred by a shoreline esplanade - a dreary monument to the concrete mixer. The rocky beach is walled in like a D-Day beach and now so ugly even the locals apologise for it. However the village itself is a delightful mix of attractive stone houses and large tavernas.


		Platanikas
		Just along the coast is PLATANIKAS which takes it name from the huge plane tree that dominates the main square. Several large tavernas make this a favourite with the organisers of 'Greek Night' tour buses.


		Tsabou
		.Around the headland are a string of fine beaches starting with TSABOU, or TSAMADOU, a pleasant bay with a shingle sand beach but rather exposed and often swept by strong winds like many along the northern shore. More sheltered and even more peaceful is AVLAKIA. The beach is only a thin strip of white stone but there is an excellent string of romantically placed tavernas along the shore. The hill villages inland from here are some of the most attractive (and most visited) on the island.	Tsabou


		Vourliotes
		The main village in these parts is VOURLIOTES. Full of atmosphere flower decked walls and brightly painted doors and shutters the village also has a very pretty central square and several decent tavernas serving local delicacies such as chickpea pies and a sweet Moskhato wine. The village is surrounded by pines and vineyards. Around 2km south is the monastery of Panagia Vrontiani built in 1566 with fine frescoes and a magnificent iconostasis.	Vourliotes

Manolates

READERS RECOMMEND

Best eating

Loukas

The neighbouring village of MANOLATES is not as pretty but does have a magnificent situation at the head of a steep canyon and it is a popular starting point for trek up Mt. Ambelos. There is a marked trail to the top at the end of a dirt track beyond the village past some charcoal pits and a convent. It is not a particularly difficult climb and you are rewarded with some stunning views.

Manolates


		Aidona Gorge
		One of the island's most popular picnic spots is the AIDONA gorge where tourist pavilions have been built among the ivy covered trees and nightingales are said to sing on spring evenings.


		Tsamadou
		Back on the coast, the beaches get steadily more crowded as you approach the resort at Kokkari. TSAMADOU is a beautiful long sickle of sand and pebble that features on almost every advertisement for Samos. Difficult access fortunately left it relatively unscathed and it has managed to escape the civic 'improvements' enjoyed by so many other beaches. There is an excellent taverna shaded by trees and the beach is a favourite with naturists.	Tsamadou


		Lemonakia
		Around the headland is LEMONAKIA, smaller and narrower than its neighbour it is also too close to the main road for comfort and overshadowed by an ugly cafe cum taverna. It makes a pleasant alternative but can still get very crowded in the summer and can be occasionally swept by strong winds.	Lemonakia

Kokkari

READERS RECOMMEND

Best eating

Brothers, Meltemi

You have heard it all before. Once a quaint fishing village, KOKKARI is now a tourist heaving nightmare. The third largest resort on the island what substantial beauty it once had has now been safely buried beneath the cement. Like Samos town the waterfront is lined with tavernas and bars to catch the soaring tourist trade. Even the tavernas are now making way for more lucrative cocktail bars and night clubs. A bypass has relieved the place of the heavy traffic but not much can be done about the heavy tread of visiting tourists. It is still cramped and claustrophobic with noisy music bars to add to the din and too popular to provide a peaceful atmosphere. This is not a way to spend a quiet or cheap day out. A rock outcrop separates the old village from the modern resort and the mainly shingle beach sweeps westward. Exposed and windy, this is a favourite venue for windsurfers and there is some serious surfing done here. The steep wooded hill behind are some of the most attractive on the island with pines and vineyards sweeping right down to the sea shore. It is inland that more traditional delights are found with many splendid trails through the woods.

Kokkari visitor reviews

Kokkari



		SAMOS HIGHLIGHTS

Hera Temple

The Pythagorio area is also the centre of the island's archaeological heritage - at least what sorry traces of it are left. The place thrived under the rule of the tyrant Polykrates in the latter half of the 6th century BC. With the aid of a gifted engineer Efplinos and around 4,000 slaves from Lesbos and Naxos he ordered some astonishing building work. He built 6km of defensive wall bristling with 35 towers and 12 gates stretching all the way to Cape Fornias. He also built a huge harbour mole on which the modern jetty still stands. And he drilled a 1km tunnel through the mountain to bring water in and provide a secret escape route out should his walled city, as it was then, come under siege. Slaves dug from both sides of the mountain to meet bang in the middle, a supreme technical achievement given the primitive tools and lack of scientific equipment at the time. Today, paying visitors are allowed around 100 metres inside to see their handiwork. But the tyrant's greatest work was to the west at the end of a 7km marble-paved Sacred Way said to have been lined with around 2,000 statues. It was a magnificent temple to the mother goddess Hera, supported by 134 columns and believed to rival the Parthenon itself. Had it survived it would have been a wonder. But the glorious temple has been long lain to waste as fire, invasions, earthquakes, pilfering and out-and-out neglect. Excavation didn't begin until 1985 and the remains are, quite frankly, a sorry site. Ninety per cent of the Sacred Way is now buried beneath an airport runway, a road and a fine crop of holiday hotels. The remarkable tunnel is collapsing and all that remains of the temple is a single tottering pillar standing in an incoherent maze of scattered rubble. Nevertheless, the place crawls with visitors. Nearby are the remains of some Roman baths, said to have been used by Anthony and Cleopatra The baths are a good size but pretty dull with a few unimpressive standing columns and hypocausts.

Hera temple

Hera statues

Efplinos tunnel

Photo Gallery


		Mavratzei
		Higher in the hills is MAVRATZEI which, along with neighbouring KOUMARADHEI, is known for its fine pottery, notably the daft Pythagorean Cup which tips all its contents over your lap when too full. Buried among trees is the 16th century monastery of MEGALIS PANAYIAS which houses some of the finest frescos on Samos. Higher still is the monastery of TIMIOU STAVROU (Holy Cross) dating from 1582 with an outstanding screen and pulpit and a fine collection of church relics.	Megalis Panayia



		SAMOS MAP

Roads and transport on Samos are generally good except in the west where it can get a bit wilder. A massive forest fire swept the island in 1993 destroying much forest although much has now recovered.



		SAMOS WEATHER

JAN	FEB	MAR	APR	MAY	JUN	JUL	AUG	SEP	OCT	NOV	DEC	Temp
13	13	16	20	24	29	32	32	28	23	18	15	(°C high)

JAN	FEB	MAR	APR	MAY	JUN	JUL	AUG	SEP	OCT	NOV	DEC	SUN (hrs)
4	6	7	7	9	11	12	11	10	9	7	5	Avg

Samos weather forecast

JAN	FEB	MAR	APR	MAY	JUN	JUL	AUG	SEP	OCT	NOV	DEC	RAIN
6	4	3	1	1	0	0	0	1	2	4	6	Avg ins

Hugging the Turkish coast, Samos enjoys high temperatures throughout the summer but the strong meltemi winds in July and August can bring heavy waves and windswept ands in north coast resorts



		SAMOS FACTS

		Telephone +30 ( 02730)	Cash machines
		Port: 27318 Tourist police: 27333 Tourist office: 28130 Medical centre: 27407 Airport: 26121	Samos Town (8) Kokkari (2) Marathokambos (2) Mitilini (1) Pythgorio (4) Vathy (2)

A ferry service from Samos to the Turkish port of Bodrum should be launched in May 2008. Ferry services already operate between Bodrum and the Greek islands of Kalymnos, Kos and Rhodes taking some 350,000 tourists on day trips to Bodrum with around 85,000 visiting the Greek islands from Bodrum. Trade leaders hope to carry to 600,000 visitors this year.



		The beautiful Greek Islands are renowned for their spectacular scenery, magnificent mountainous backdrops, stunning sandy beaches and crystal clear waters. Holidays to the Greek Islands are often most cherished for this combination of sunshine, warm waters and beaches set against truly wonderful scenery. Whether it is a traditional beach holiday you would like or something with a little more history, you'll find that a break away to the Greek Islands is just the answer!


		Pythagoras
		Samos' most famous son Pythagoras didn't actually spend much time on the island. Known today mainly for his geometric theorems, he was during his lifetime equal parts mathematician, philosopher, magician and mystic Surprisingly he left no written records himself and what we know of his teachings come from his students who did. He also exerted a profound influence on later Greek philosophers including Aristotle and Plato and established a 'Pythagorean' way of life noted for vegetarianism, abstinence and renouncing of money and wordily goods. It was a way of life that would be adopted by thousands of followers.	Pythagoras

Pythagoras was born on Samos in the 6th century BC, the son of a wealthy sea trader. Highly intelligent he made the most of the best education money could buy. But his father died while Pythagoras was still a teenager and soon afterwards the tyrant Polykrates became ruler of the island. Pythagoras left for Miletus, aged just 18 years, to be taught by the eminent if ancient teacher Thales who advised him to visit Egypt, then a major seat of learning. Pythagoras left for Egypt and stayed more than 20 years studying astronomy and geometry with their priests and sages.
An extraordinary period followed when Egypt was invaded and Pythagoras was carried off to Babylon. Here he mysteriously rose from captive slave to a disciple of the Persian magi studying arithmetic, music and divination. He eventually returned to Samos aged 56 setting up a colony of followers. He preferred a meditative way of life and took to living in a cave, but was constantly pestered to help with public and political administration on the island. Fed up of the intrusions he gathered his most loyal followers and left for Croton in Italy. Here he expounded a philosophy of simple living and meditative though. Followers were vegetarian and ascetic and numbers swelled to around 600 despite an arduous initiation. The most devoted followers, known as Cenobites, gave up all their worldly possessions to the cause and shared everything equally. The sect slowly acquired great wealth and prestige and Pythagoreans were sought to mediate in all disputes thanks to their reputation for honesty, fairness, thoughtfulness and incorruptibility.
Not surprisingly they had their enemies, not least those who had tried and failed to gain entry to the order. One such was the rich and powerful Cyclon of Croton who forced Pythagoras to flee to Metapontum where he later died. The leaderless followers were locked in a house which was burned to the ground leaving just two survivors.
Pythagoras is credited with a string of firsts - the first to describe higher geometric solids, to discover the relationship between the squares on a triangle's size (the Pythagorean theorem) and the first to map of musical intervals. His number theories shaped much of the Kabbalah of the Jews and his mystical numbers and are found in magic practices of the Renaissance. Many regard him as the father of such wide-ranging disciplines as numerology, geometry, musical theory and psychotherapy. He was also said to be able to predict earthquakes, to talk with animals and to practise hypnosis. All this and Pythagoras left not a single book behind him.



		SAMOS PHOTO GALLERIES
Marengo Books have several excellent walking guides and walking maps of Samos and other islands		SAMOS photo gallery by JEREMY KELL SAMOS photo gallery by CHRISTINE MANDER KAMBOS photo gallery by JOHN BERGER HERA TEMPLE photo gallery by DAVID BANNER PSILI AMOS photo gallery by DAVID BANNER



		SAMOS SITES

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Samos Greece | tourist holiday travel guide

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A tourist holiday travel guide to the Greek island of Samos