Kassos,
the most southem of the Dodecanese, is only 27 nautical miles northeast
of Crete. Its first inhabitants are thought to have been the Phoenicians.
Homer mentions it in his catalogue of the Greek cities that took part
in the Trojan War. Kassos is a mountainous island with a steep, rocky
coastline and few beaches. Én the l8th century, Kassos established its
own merchant fleet and grew rich from trade. It played an active role
in the Greek War of Independence of 1821, eaming the revenge of the Turko-
Egyptian armada which set fire to the island in Ìáã 1824 and subsequently
slaughtered its inhabitants. Only a few survived.
The capital of the island is Fri, built on picturesque Bouka Bay. Its old stone houses - many of them constructed by sea captains - extend on both sides down to the sea.
Ôï the east and very near Fri is Emborios, the isiand's other coastal village. It boasts a beautiful church dedicated to the Nativity of the Virgin.
Other villages include Agia Marina, set on a hill just one kilometre southwest of Fri, and Arvanitohori, southeast of Agia Marina, nestled in the island's only valley.
Ôwo kilometres from Agia Marina there is a cave called Sellai, 30 metres deep and 8 metres wide, with impressive stalactites.
Swimmers will find pleasant beaches at Fri, Emborios, Ammouda and on the nearby islet of Armathia.
HOW ÔÏ GET
By ferry from Piraeus
USEFUL TELEPHONE NUMBERS
Area code 02450
Harbourmaster 41.288
Police 41.222
Municipality 41.277
First Aid 41.333
