Kastelorizo or Megisti is the eastest Aegean island and in Greece generally. It is inhabited since prehistoric times and has an important historic route.
This limitary Dodecanese island is 72n.m. from Rhodes and only 1m from the south shores of Turkey. It has a length of 9.5 sq. km and it is rocky.
This small island had 15.000 residents in the beginnings of the 20th century! But now there is nothing reminiscing of this blooming city. The permanent residents are not over 300 and the settlement, with forsaken and destroyed by bombing houses, has a picture of dereliction. During the last years Kastelorizo is trying to find its past glory.
The island was “discovered” and more lovers of travelling anchor in this beautiful Aegean island. Handle to this was the academy awarded movie Mediterraneo, which was shot there. So Kastelorizo gained rumor. It is a very popular travel destination for Italians.
Kastelorizo is ideal for quiet vacation and pays back every visitor with its unique beauties, idyllic beaches and hospitality of residents that make you feel like home.
Kastelorizo is a rapidly developing tourist resort. The infrastructures satisfy all demands. There are hotels and rooms to let providing all comforts.
Kastelorizo is inhabited since Neolithic times. The history of this small island is revealed in the important sites it has.
In ancient times it was known with the name Megisti, which is used even today.
In the island bloomed the Mycenaic civilization, as it seems from the findings of mycenaic graves brought into light by excavations. Dorians followed that built the acropolis in Paleokastro, in the west part of the island, parts of which are saved until our days.
In 530 BC Megisti is domained by Rhodes and follows the same historic route with the capital of Dodecanese.
Romans and Byzantine later conquer the island, while in 1306 the island is in the hands of Saint John Knights. Castle Kastelo Roso was built then, from which the island was named Kastelorizo.
In 1440 the island was conquered by the Sultan of Egypt.
In 1512 Turkish prevail in the island. Their possession lasted until 1912 when Italians come.
From the end of 19th until the middle of the 20th century the island bloomed. Then it had about 15.000 residents.
Kastelorizo was bombed during World War One. It was then that residents started to immigrate and abandon it. This continued and after World War Two, when the island was bombed once again and suffered a lot of catastrophes.
Kastelorizo adjusted to Greece in 1948, as all Dodecanese islands.
