Greece Halki A Dodecanese Island
Halki
One hour both by ferry from Skala Kamirou and by hydrofoil from Rhodes Town.
About the island
This tiny island 28 sq km has a population of just 500. The name Halki comes from the ancient Greek word for copper a metal that was once mined here. The ancient capital was built where Horio is today in the hills above the harbor. The Knights of 8t John built a castle above this village on the site of an ancient Greek acropolis.
The islanders make their living from fishing and sponge diving although these now take second place to tourism.
Emigration has resulted in a dramatic drop in the population of the island. The now deserted village of Horio once had a population of 4000.
If you’re planning a visit to the island you’ll be pleased to know that it’s dedicated to ‘peace and friendship’. A grant from Unesco should develop fishing and protect the marine life of the area including hopefully the Mediterranean monk seal.
As you arrive
Boats all come into the charming horseshoe shaped harbor of Emporio which has picture postcard houses. There are plenty of places to eat and drink travel agents and a post office if you need to change money.
There are a number of rooms to rent should you want to stay for a few days.
The ornate bell tower on the village church of 8t Nicholas is one of the tallest in the Dodecanese. The front entrance of the church has marble columns from an ancient Greek temple dedicated to the god Apollo. The clock tower was presented by islanders living abroad. To the right of the harbor as you enter you can see a lovely old storehouse used by the fishermen for sponges and nets.
About the writer:nbsp;nbsp;
Joseph Moore is an eminent analyst and writer in Travel and Tourism related topics. He has authored many books on tour guide for Kerala Tours and Kerala Tour Packages. Find more packages at http://www.greenparadize.com/.
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