Agia Sofia

Argos is one of the oldest, continuously inhabitated settlements of Kalymnos. It received its name from the residents of mainland city Argos (in Peloponnese), who settled there in their return after the Trojan War.

It is a small, sparsely populated village, built on an extensive, 170 meter high plateau, where the airport of Kalymnos is also situated.

In Argos' plateau lies the most important Byzantine church of Kalymnos, the temple of Agioi Dodeka Apostoloi (the Holy Twelve Apostles), which was probably built in the place of another ancient temple.

The residents of Argos have been traditionally involved in farming and agriculture, so in there you will find delicious homemade breads, barley breads and pure dairy products. 

Every summer, the tsambouna  (the traditional Kalymnian bagpipe instrument) festival is organized in Argos.

Damos, which means 'Municipality' in the Dorian dialect, was a rich settlement that culminated from the Early Hellenistic period to the Late Roman period. The ancient buildings have been maintained to a very large extent, and thus we can nowdays easily identify the ruins of a large baths complex, several houses and workshops, carved fountains, a paved stepped road, and chamber tombs carved with precious gems and other findings. The village is located north of the road that connects Chora with Elies.

Chora (or Chorio) is located 3 km northwest of Pothia, although the two villages are practically united anymore, and the one village is actually the extension of the other.
 
Chora was the capital of Kalymnos for centuries, and was deliberately built away from the sea in an effort to avoid the pirates that plundered the Mediterranean for many years.

As it is expected, some of the major Kalymnos' attractions can be found around Chora, as the Great Castle and the Pera Castle or Castle of Chrisocheria-as it is alternatively called .

In Chora you will also find several curches, built in beautiful and strategic locations. It is recommended to visit the first metropolis of Kalymnos, the church of Panagia Haritomeni, where you can admire the famous gilded temple.
 
Moreover, the churches of Christ in Jerusalem and Agia Sofia (or Hevangelistria), both built with materials taken from the ruins of the ancient temple of Delian Apollo, present architectural and historical interest.

Castle of Chora or Great Castle
The Castle of Chora or Great Castle or Paleochora is one of the most famous attractions in Kalymnos. It is situated in the place where ancient Pothia once resided and it is considered as the medieval capital of Kalymnos. The castle takes its final form in 1495 and it is inhabited continuously until 1812 .

Gradually, from the mid-18th century, the risks that primarily led the people into the castle (eg pirates) start to disappear, and as a consequence the population build new houses outside the castle, in Chora.

Today, the Byzantine castle retains its charm, although deserted. In order to access it you need to climb the 230 steps starting from Pothia and lead to its gate, which once had a movable wooden bridge.

Inside the castle, apart from several houses, also two large water tanks, a stone mill pond, part of the stone roller crushing of olives and 10 well-preserved churches stand out. Outside the castle, in the middle of the eastern wall, you can see a complex of cannon towers which was used as a means of defense.

This ionic-style temple is entirely constructed of marble. Its columns are preserved, but they are nowdays part of the church of Panagia Haritomeni at Chora. Various foundations and other architectural elements of the Temple have also been used in the construction of the -ruined anymore- old christian church of Christ of Jerusalem .

The Temple of Delian Apollo, just like the Sanctuary of Delian Apollo which is next to it, were destroyed during 391-435 AD. In their place were erected at first the church of Christ of Jerusalem, and later the church Agia Sophia (or Annunciation), both using materials taken from the deconstructed Temple of Delian Apollo.