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Sightseeing

 Samos has many sights that the tourist should visit, this because of its rich history as well as its extraordinary natural beauty.

Some of the most interesting places to visit are its museums. There’s one Paleontological, two History and two Folklore museums that will help you discover the history of Samos from Prehistory till nowadays.

The visitor should not omit visiting the various villages during his sight-seeing tour of the island. There are 34 of them, and each one of them with unique features, history, architecture and geographical location that enrich them with special beauty.

Another important sight are the monasteries, where you can admire their frescoes, architecture and artifacts. Most of them are constructed in privileged locations with great view.

Below you will find a few more specific sights of Samos that you should not omit to visit:
 

The tunnel of Efpalinus

An engineer from Megara called Efpalinus, during the 6th century b.c, designed it. At that time the tyrant Polycrates was in control of Samos and the island was flourishing economically. Its length is 1026 meters and it penetrates the mountain at a height of 246 meters. The purpose of this tunnel was to ensure the water supply of the ancient city by providing water from a water source that was located at the other end of the mountain near the village of Mytilinioi.

A major significance of this project is that the workers began digging on both sides of the mountain (from the Mytilinioi and Pythagoreio sides) and met in the middle with only a marginal deviation.

Even in nowadays, the engineers consider this project to be a great achievement for it’s era that boosted science (especially geometry) as we know it.
It is located 2km out of Pythagoreio and you can either walk or drive to this spot.

The Temple dedicate to Goddess Hera 

The temple was constructed again and again. The latest temple was built by the architect Rikos in the period when ruler was Polycrates. The marble column that we can see today is attributed to the construction of that period. The temple of Hera had a great significance for the ancient Greek world. It was a worship place of great importance. The ruins of the temple are close to Pythagorio, in a distance of 3 km. You can get there by car.

Sarakinis’ tower

Nikolas Sarakinis was a bar pilot in Kilitz Ali Pasha’s flagship. Kilitz was an admiral of the Turkish fleet and he was a Frenchman, ex-pirate who changed faith and put himself to the services of the Sultan. He persuaded the Sultan to help him re-inhabit Samos Island by giving special privileges to all ex-inhabitants and other Greeks who would agree to return to it.

Sarakinis, helped Kilitz Pasha in re-inhabiting Samos which was devastated by pirate attacks and as a result to this its population had fled to neighbouring islands. In return Kilitz Pasha, gave to Sarakini large estates in the Iraion region, where Sarakinis (to protect himself against pirates) built this tower in 1577.

It’s a three-storied building, rectangular in shape, with bastions and well fortified.

Today it belongs to the Patmos Holly monastery

It is located 8 km from Pythagoreio (near Iraion) and you can visit it by car.
 

Lykourgos Tower

Lykourgos Logothetis, leader of the Samian revolution against the Turks, built it in 1824.

Its purpose was to protect the rebels, the port of Pythagoreio and the residents of the area in general against the Turkish attacks.

The tower is in the village of Pythagoreio and you can visit it by foot.

 

Cave of Pythagoras

It's located at the East side of the mountain Kerkis and in a distance of 3 km from Kampos Marahokampou.

The cave got its name from the philosopher Pythagoras who (it is said) found a refuge there when he was being chased by his enemy Polycrates. Another theory is that the cave was the philosopher's place for meditation.

In order to get there, you have to climb about 300 m on the rocky slope of the mountain Kerkis.

The boatyard at St. Isidoros (Kallithea region)

In the older days Samos had many boatyards as well as shipyards in various regions (Pythagoreio, Kokkari, Karlovasi, Marathokampos, St. Isidoros etc). The wooden boats and ships that were constructed in Samos were considered to be the best in the Aegean. This was because of the proven durability that the Samian pines, (with which the boats were being constructed) had in the sea.

Today there are only two boatyards left, one in the port of Karlovasi and another at St. Isidoros.

The boatyard was consisted out of many small enterprises but today there’s only one left, Mr. Psilopatis. His shipyard is located in the bay of St. Isidoros, an area of great natural beauty.

You will find it 5 km past the village of Kallithea. Four out of these five km are dirt road.
 

Waterfalls of Potami 

Driving 3 km west of Karlovasi you'll find this magnificent area. You can walk by the river under all sorts of trees. After a long walk (about 2 km) you find a small lake and the waterfalls, one of the most beautiful places to visit in Samos.

The Genovese Castle (Karlovasi)

The Byzantine era in Kalrovasi is visible in the Temple of Metamorphosis in "Potami" region and the presence of the Genovese conquerors in the ruins of the small castle which is just past the Temple of Metamorphosis.

Both are 3 km out of Karlovasi city, in the region called “Potami"
 

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