A somewhat hard-to-reach haven for yachters and adventurous travelers that don’t mind enduring the eight-hour ferry ride from Athens, Patmos was formally declared a Holy Island in 1983 and is also referred to as the “Jerusalem of the Aegean,” home to the world’s second-most holy place after Jerusalem, the Cave of the Apocalypse. This is the very place where not only Christian but all religions, believe the creator of the world appeared. First when the Ten Commandments were presented to Moses by God at Mount Sinai, the second in the Jordan River, and the third, on Patmos. It’s been used as a place of exile by the Romans thanks to its steep terrain, in fact, after St. John was exiled by Emperor Domitian, that’s how he found safe refuge in the 1st century AD.
For many years it’s been an island of pilgrimage for Orthodox and Catholic faithful, with many coming to be immersed in its spiritual heritage while basking in its tranquil beauty. Like most Greek islands, there are plenty of visitors who come to for the sunshine, sand and crystalline waters as well. In the Chora, whitewashed homes glisten under the Aegean sun next to grand mansions. Walking the narrow streets from the monastery down to the port, one can discover all sorts of shops, cafes, restaurants and traditional bakeries filled with cheese pies, local cheeses and other dairy products along with traditional fried Greek pastries topped with honey and nuts.
Visiting this UNESCO World Heritage Site, one of the island’s most important cultural attractions, is a must for anyone religious or otherwise. This is the place St. John is believed to have received his vision, and English-speaking tour guides take visitors into the church, built around the southern part of the cave to explain the story.
The over 1,000-year-old Monastery of St. John crowns the top of the hill of Chora, the most impressive visible sight on the island. It includes a museum that showcases ancient treasures and texts as well as a magnificent Byzantine church.
There are many beaches worth visiting on Patmos. Petra beach, also known as the stone of Kallikatsou, is believed to have been an open-air sanctuary dedicated to the Greek Goddess Aphrodite. It’s a spectacular beach for experiencing the island’s mystical energy. Agrio Livadi beach may be the best for swimming with its gorgeous aquamarine-hued waters and sands that are dotted with loungers and umbrellas. Diakofti beach is ideal for enjoying a more tranquil beach experience as one of the most secluded beaches on Patmos and it also offers a stunning view, surrounded by rugged mountains.
Built on top of a hill to defend the island from pirate attacks in the 11th century, the Chora, the main town of Patmos, is a UN World Heritage Site and an architectural treasure with traditional whitewashed homes, impressive mansions, medieval churches and narrow, winding alleyways that are fun to get lost in. Watch for Sophouliou mansion which dates to 1522, one of the oldest buildings standing on Patmos today.
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