Description of the attraction
Potya is the capital, main port, and the cultural and financial center of the Greek island of Kalymnos. It is located on the south coast of the island in a picturesque natural bay.
Due to the constant threat of pirate raids, the inhabitants of the islands (and Kalymnos is no exception), as a rule, preferred to settle further from the coast in remote areas. By the 19th century, the threat had significantly diminished and the islanders began to actively develop coastal lands. So in 1850 the city of Potia was founded, which later became the capital of the island, replacing its predecessor, Chora.
Today Potia is a popular tourist center with a well-developed infrastructure. Here you will find an excellent choice of accommodation, as well as an abundance of cozy restaurants and taverns (most of them are concentrated in the waterfront area) where you can relax while enjoying excellent local cuisine with a wide selection of fresh fish and seafood dishes.
Potia is an incredibly beautiful city with many elegant neoclassical mansions, interesting museums and beautiful temples. Among the main attractions of Potia and its surroundings, it is worth noting the Archaeological Museum of Kalymnos, the Ethnographic Museum, the Maritime Museum, the Monastery of St. Sava, the Church of St. Nicholas and the 19th century Church of Christ the Savior with a silver dome and marble iconostasis by the famous Greek sculptor Yannulis Halepas. The castle of Pera (better known as the castle of Chrysocheria), built by the Knights Hospitallers in the 15th century, also deserves special attention. There is also the Seven Maidens' cave nearby.
By renting a boat in the port, you can take a short trip along the picturesque shores of Kalymnos, and at the same time visit the Kefalos cave with impressive stalactites, which can only be reached by sea.
