Simi

Simi

Simi was once famous for shipbuilding and sponge diving. Simiot shipwrights built many of the fast galleys for the knights of St. John. Even today Simiot caiques seem to be better cared for than in many other islands. Discovering Simi is like discovering an exotic plant in the desert. The muted blue, amber, cream and rose-hued houses have been built one upon the other up the steep sides of the inlet like a child's building block version of a town.

Simi is reputed, in mythology, to be the birthplace of the Three Graces. In antiquity it bore the names Aigli and Metapontis. Its present name comes from the nymph Syme, who was Poseidon's wife. After its conquest by the Knights of St. John in 1373, commerce and shipping flourished until steam replaced sail. The stately mansions in the main town date from that period, which reached its peak in the 19th century.

Where is it?

Like Rhodes, Simi is one of the Dodecanese islands, which are located south of Samos and Fourni, east of the Cyclades, east of Asia Minor, and north-east of Crete.

What to do and see:

While its interior is punctuated with small valleys, its coastline alternates between being steep and rocky or sandy and indented with little coves. Most of its beautiful desert beaches, can only be reached with small boats

One of the island's most famous landmarks is the monastery of the Archangel Michael Panormitis on the southwest coast. Built in the early 18th century, it overlooks a beautiful bay. Here is also a small museum containing a strange mix of precious antiques, votive offerings and small models of ships.