Asfendiou
Asfendiou Kos
This picturesque inland village is one of the most attractive on the island
of Kos. It is sited on a panoramic position on the slopes of Mt. Dikeon and
faces the sea with spectacular views. The whole village is surrounded by
beautiful Mediterranean vegetation and abundant springs of mountain water. The
village itself is enchanting with traditional whitewashed houses in a maze of
narrow alleys and there are lots of cafes and traditional tavernas in which to
sit, refresh yourself and enjoy the beautiful scenery. The village has a pretty
little church worth visiting, the church of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary
and two early Christian basilicas, St. John and Kapama. The area of Asfendiou
includes the villages of nearby Zia, Lagoudi, Zipari, Tigaki, Linopoti, Agios
Dimitrios and Asomati. This collection of villages gives the visitor an idea of
how the island used to be before the advent of tourism. Increasingly, today, the
population of Asfendiou is transferring to the coastal villages where the
opportunity for fruitful work is more likely and the population of Asfendiou has
shrunk to around 100 inhabitants.
Getting to Asfendiou is relatively straightforward by car. Taking the main Kos
Road and passing through the village of Zipari, onto a road full of bends and
curves. It can also be reached from Linopotis and Lagoudi or through Pyli.
Things to do and see
Worth visiting is the 11th century church of Asomaton Taxiarchon with its
carved, wooden screen and the nearby ruins of the early Christian basilica of
Agios Pavlos.
From Asomati, a tiny village of around twenty inhabitants you can enjoy
beautiful panoramic views from the church of Archangelos which is decorated with
bright colours and has a beautiful cloister inside.
The church of Agios Ioannis Theologos is built in the rock face in the small
village of Lagoudi which is around 1km away from Asfendiou
The pretty village of Zia with its fantastic views and many interesting folk-art
shops is within easy reach.
The almost deserted village of Agios Dimitrios has a beautiful little church
that houses an interesting photographic exhibition of the population before the
Second World War.
There are many festivals throughout the tourist season in these villages. For
example on August 6th in Zipari is the festival of Metamorfosi tou Sotiros and
the 8th May sees the festival in honour of Agios Ioannis Theologos at Lagoudi.
The nearest beach is the sandy beach of Tigaki which is close to the village of
Asfendiou