Hotels in Greece & the Greek islands

Kastelorizo Island, Greece

The history of Kastelorizo goes back to Neolithic times. Its first dwellers were Pelasgians as various finds and ruins of fortification walls indicate. It was called Megisti from the settler Megisteus. Later it was called Kastelorizo from the Italian name "Castello Rosso" which means red rock because of the color of the rocks its castle was built on.

Its fate was the same as the rest of the Dodecanese. After the fall of the Byzantine empire was captured by the Venetians and Genoans and finally was sold to the Knights of Rhodes. In 1523 it fell to the Turks despite its powerful fortifications but the inhabitants secured some special privileges but were under tribute to the Sultan. When the Greek Revolution of 1821 was declared, the island was enjoying great commercial and economic prosperity. It had a considerable number of ships which offered to the cause. In 1830 it came to the possession of the Turks again according to Protocol of London. In 1913 the islanders revolted against the tyrants and in 1915, during World War I, Kastelorizo was taken by the French who used it as a naval base. In 1920 they ceded it to the Italians who occupied it until the end of World War I. It was finally incorporated to the Greek state in 7th March of 1948 together with the rest of the Dodecanese islands.

Kastelorizo (or Megisti ) is the Aegean's easternmost island. It has been inhabited since prehistoric times. The Dorians who settled it later constructed fortified acropolises near the present day town and at Palaiokastro, where some ruins can still be seen. The name Kastelorizo comes from its castle, Castello Rosso (or red castle), erected by the Knights of St. John.

The island's only settlement is Megisti, otherwise known as Kastelorizo, on the northeast coast. Its houses line the horseshoe - shaped port and climb up the foothills of the mountain behind it. The gracious two-story neoclassical houses with their brightly painted doors and windows, wooden balconies and tile roofs on the waterfront and the majestic domes of the churches testify to the island's former prosperity. Photographs in the Archaeological Museum will show you how many hundreds of houses there used to be. Most of them were destroyed by World War II bombs.

Though there are no beaches as such on the island, you can take a little boat to the particularly beautiful blue grotto of Parasta, and there is also excellent swimming from the rocks near the port. Boats are also on hand to take you to the nearby islets of Ro (6 n.mi. west) and Strongili (5 n.mi. southeast). Both islands have wonderful beaches. Ro became famous when its sole inhabitant, the lady of Ro, used to raise the Greek flag there every morning. 

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