Description of the attraction
The abandoned medieval settlement of Paleo Pili (or Old Pili) is an important historical monument and one of the main attractions of the Greek island of Kos. The settlement is located in the central part of Kos, about 17 km from the capital of the island of the same name, on the slopes of the Dikeos mountain range, at an altitude of about 300 m above sea level.
Today, at the top of a rocky hill overlooking Paleo Pili, you will see the ruins of an old, once majestic Byzantine fortress, presumably built in the 11th century, during the reign of the Macedonian dynasty of the Byzantine Empire. The location was strategically correct, as it provided reliable protection and excellent visibility, allowing you to control also the coast of Asia Minor (the western coast of modern Turkey). During the reign of the Knights of the Order of St. John on the island, the fortress was thoroughly fortified, making it one of the key defensive structures of the island of Kos. Unfortunately, to this day, the walls and buildings inside the fortress have survived only partially.
The very same settlement of Paleo Pili occupies a fairly large territory. Here you will see many dilapidated medieval houses, a Turkish bath and three ancient temples - the Church of Panagia Yapapanti, founded in the 11th century by the Monk Christodulus, with beautiful frescoes of the 14th century, a carved wooden iconostasis and antique columns from the nearby ancient Greek temple of Demeter (4th century BC), the Church of the Holy Archangels Michael and Gabriel with fairly well-preserved wall paintings from the 14th-16th centuries and the Church of St. Anthony from the time of the Knights Hospitallers.
For centuries, Paleo Pili flourished and was an important administrative center of the island. In 1830, after another outbreak of cholera, the settlement was abandoned forever.
After examining the ruins of the old city, ancient temples, incredible landscapes and stunning panoramic views from the top of the hill, you can also visit one of the oldest and most picturesque villages of Kos - Pili, located very close in a picturesque valley stretching at the foot of the mountains.
