Marathokampos on Samos: The Mountain Town Above the Southwest Coast

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Marathokampos is a large traditional town in the southwest of Samos, built across a hillside on the flank of Mount Kerkis, the highest mountain in the eastern Aegean. The old town rises in amphitheatrical tiers of stone houses and stepped lanes, with wide views south over the bay and the beaches below. Down on the … Read more

Balos Beach on Samos: The Quiet Cove Under Mount Kerkis

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Balos beach lies at the quiet southwest end of Samos, tucked under the steep slopes of Mount Kerkis beyond the resort of Votsalakia. A pebble-and-sand cove with clear, cool water, it sits near the end of the coast road at Marathokampos bay, far from the busier north and east of the island. Drivers reach it … Read more

The Cave of Pythagoras on Samos: A Hermitage on Mount Kerkis

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The Cave of Pythagoras stands on the southern slopes of Mount Kerkis, high above the village of Marathokampos on the southwest coast of Samos. A marked footpath climbs through pine to a pair of rock openings, where the small cave-chapel of Panagia Sarantaskaliotissa sits beside a deeper cavern. Local tradition ties the site to the … Read more

Votsalakia Beach on Samos: The Long Southwest Strand Under Kerkis

Samos Town Harbour. - panoramio (2)

Votsalakia, also called Kampos, is the main beach resort on the southwest coast of Samos. The long strand of sand and pebbles runs beneath Mt Kerkis, the island’s highest mountain, well away from the busier north and east. Shallow, gently shelving water and a low strip of tavernas, rooms and sunbeds make it a calm, … Read more