​Wellness Trips in the Mediterranean

Symi is an island in the Dodecanese and is all over the world known as an architectural pearl. There are 2500 inhabitants on the island, and the size is 67 sq. kilometers (42 sq. miles). The island is protected, which means that if permitted one can only build houses “Symi” style or Italian neoclassicism. Symi has a little bit of everything, beautiful surroundings, nice taverns, and wonderful waters. You come here to relax, the island is not one of the islands where time stands still; it has a lot of visitors every summer but has remained genuine to a great extent
 

What to see:
The Monastery of the Archangel Michael is the most important sight on the island. It was originally built in the 6th century but what you see today is the result of restoration and new buildings from the 18th century. Here there are two museums on the island, one historical and another religious, as well as a tavern. In Ano Symi (Upper Symi) you can see the old castle of the knights and visit the archaeological museum. There are also many churches all over the island, dating back to the Turkish rule.
 

History:
It is believed that Symi helped with sending ship in the Trojan War. What followed was the story of the rest of the Aegean islands: the Romans invaded in the 2nd and 1st century BC, the Byzantine years came after, interrupted in the 14th century when the knights of Rhodes took over. They build a castle on top of the ancient acropolis to protect themselves against pirate raids, and were to stay of the island until the Turks invaded in the 16th century
Because the Symians boats were extremely fast, the island got the important responsibility of post office to the Ottomans. In return, the island was left pretty much to itself, and did not suffer as many other places around Greeks. The fishermen of Symi were also allowed to fish sponges, which together with the wine production, was to be an important source of income, even though outshone by Kalymnos.
In the 1912 the island was given to the Italians, and during World War 2, it was invaded by British and German troops, until its final liberation in 1948.