Karpathos, which the Italians called Scarpanto, is the second largest island in the Dodecanese, long and mountainous, between Rhodes and Crete. The north, long isolated, has preserved an old world: in the village of Olympos, clinging to a ridge, many women still wear traditional dress every day, a dialect with archaic features is spoken and lyra and laouto music accompanies festivals. The village, with its windmills, is reached by car or by boat to the little port of Diafani.
The south is more modern: the main town Pigadia has the port and most hotels. Beaches are among the finest in the Dodecanese, with white pebbles and turquoise water: Apella, Kyra Panagia, Achata, Amoopi and Lefkos on the west coast. The steady wind makes Afiartis bay, near the airport, an international windsurfing spot. Hiking routes cross the north, as far as the islet of Saria.
Getting there
The airport has flights from Athens and Rhodes and summer charters from various European cities. Ferries link Karpathos with Rhodes, Kasos, Crete and Piraeus.