Symi Island

Symi is a small Dodecanese island in Greece, lying a short distance north of Rhodes and across a narrow strait from the Turkish coast. Its harbour town is split into Gialos, the waterfront, and Chorio, the upper town, and both are built on steep slopes lined with neoclassical mansions in ochre, pink, yellow and pale blue. The mansions date from the 19th century, when the island prospered from shipbuilding and sponge diving, and their painted facades surround a horseshoe harbour that is one of the prettiest in the Aegean. A stairway known as the Kali Strata, with about 500 steps, links Gialos to Chorio, where visitors find the Archaeological and Folklore Museum, the Kastro on the hilltop and the church of the Ascension. Boats run from the harbour to the monastery of Panormitis, a major pilgrimage site on the south of the island with a bell tower and a small museum, and to coves such as Nimborio, Agios Nikolaos and Marathounda. The visit usually takes a full day from Rhodes, but the town is far quieter after the day-trip boats leave in late afternoon, so staying overnight is rewarded with atmospheric evenings and empty lanes. Photographers favour the view across the harbour from the Chorio terraces and from the Kali Strata at sunrise or sunset. Day-trippers arrive between about 11 AM and 4 PM, which is the crowded window in summer. Symi is known for its small shrimp, served in the harbour tavernas, and for its sponge shops. Cars are limited, so most visits are on foot or by water taxi. Admission to the town is free; museums have modest fees.