Greek Islands

Lovely, mountainous island, Simi (or Symi) was reputed to be the birthplace of the Three Graces. While its interior is punctuated with small valleys, its coastline alternates between being steep and rocky or sandy and indented with little coves. In antiquity it bore the names Aigli and Metapontis. It took its present name from the nymph Symi, who was Poseidon’s wife.

Symi is a small Dodecanesian island between Rhodes and Kos. Famous for its monastery of Panormitis at the north west part of the island .Symi is a mountainous island with the exception of Panormitis that is very green. The main town and port of Symi with its small houses all build at a unique neoclassic architecture is the main attraction of the island

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Symi was a very wealthy island during the Turkish occupation .The Symian where very good ship builders and they where building very fast ships ,as a result the Sultan of the Ottoman Empire gave a particular autonomy to Symi.
Symi used very well this independence and developed a strong economy based on Commerce and shipyards.
Every year at the fest of Panormitis ,people from all the Dodecanese islands go to Symi and pay there respects to the miracle Icon of Archangel Michael that it has the name Panormitis

During winter and summer both locals and foreigners go on pleasant trips to the tens of chapels to be found scattered across the beautiful landscape allowing one to forget one's woes, to relax and enjoy the church's feast day. 
ANCIENT MONUMENTS AND SIGHTS OF ARCHEOLOGICAL INTEREST
The Stone Bridge in the port.
The Clock Tower at the entrance to the port built in 1880.
The National and Ionian Bank buildings, the Town Hall, the Maritime Museum, the Police Building, the Petrideio Primary School. The sculptures by Kostas Valsamis "Dove of Peace" adorn the port. Behind the 'Dove of Peace" sculpture one can see an inscription about 8th May 1945 decorated with a trireme carved in stone, a copy of the carved vessel at Lindos.
The windmills at Horio once used to grind wheat.
The 'Spetsaria', the old municipal pharmacy, in Horio. 
Byzantine ruins, a damaged mosaic, twelve underground vaults known by the locals as the 'Twelve Caves' which during Byzantine times must have been used as a painting and sculpture workshop. The remains of a Paleo-Christian basilica below the church of Aghia Irini.
The stone grape presses, the most interesting of which are in the area known as Kourkounioti.

The ancient tomb at Pontikokastro.
The ruins of Pelasgic walls on the island of Seskli near Panormitis.
Fortresses
The Knights Castle, with their emblem over the entrance, located at the highest point of the upper town. Built on the ruins of ancient and Byzantine remains with parts of the walls which once surrounded the acropolis on the hill. At the highest point lies the small chapel of the Virgin Our Lady (Kyra Panaghia) with a panoramic view of Horio and Yialos. 
Monasteries and Churches
ROUKOUNIOTIS MONASTERY, 15th century, built like a fortress. Outside the monastery walls one can see a centuries old cypress tree in the shape of an umbrella.
MEGALOS SOTIRIS (GREAT SAVIOUR) MONASTERY on the road for Panormitis set in wonderful surroundings. This is a metochi (dependency) of Panormitis Monastery. Built like a fortress it has cells lining the side of the Katholikon dedicated to the Transfiguration of Christ the Saviour (Metamorfosi Sotira).

ARCHANGEL MICHAEL PANORMITIS MONASTERY. The exact date the monastery was founded is unknown. The last additions were made in 1783 according to an inscription on the entrance to the Church. The interior is covered with Byzantine wall paintings which were executed by the local hagiographers Nikitas and Michaelos Karakostidis.
The wooden carved iconostasis is superb covered as it is with dedicatory offerings, and a solid gold icon of the Saint. In the museum in addition to ecclesiastical vessels, small painted icons and gold and silver objects there are also dedicatory offerings placed in bottles by sailors since it is said that they 'save' them from the sea. The monastery's library contains many books and handwritten codices from the 16th, 17th and 18th centuries. During World War II the monks were active in supporting Greek and Allied soldiers. Residents of Symi call Archangel Michael Panormitis a 'thief', somewhat tongue in cheek, because if a dedicatory offering is not made the Archangel finds some way to take it himself. 
The Church of the Virgin (Panaghia) on the hill with the castle was built on the site of the temple of Athena Acra. 

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