Kerpe

Kerpe is a wild and untouched beauty sculpted by the winds on the Twelve Islands with its centuries-old traditions and customs.

Kerpe Kerpe, the second largest island of the Dodecanese, is unique. Traces of the past can be found in its ancient acropolis, caves, churches and even traditional dress. The word stunning is an understatement for the setting, where you can observe the Aegean from the mountainside villages, untouched and always awake with stunning views, despite being beaten by wild winds. While on Kerpe Island you will discover the island’s unspoilt Greek soul, with its traditional life, friendly locals, local musicians and mystical festivals untarnished by modern crazes.

What to do in Kerpe Island

Olimbos, exposed to the wind, balances itself like a tightrope walker on a difficult and remote hill. Its houses, built on rocks and clinging tightly to each other, look down. This harsh, wild place has harboured pirates and marauders in the gulf and still resists the intrusion of modern-day invaders. Defying the tides of time since the 9th century, the city has everything you would expect

The colourful story of the Dodecanese Islands

A single glance can evoke various eras of various cultures, inviting those who like to delve into the depths of history. Ancient Christian churches, ancient Vroukounta and Arkesia, the castle and acropolis at Aperi, the Roman cistern at Lefko, the domed tombs at Kerpe Island and Arkasa are among the major promenades and attractions. There are also more recent structures such as bridges, aqueducts, wells, windmills and Olimbos tandoors, remnants of the Italians. Don’t miss the opportunity to travel back in time.

On this island, time seems to stand still. Here you can find an authentic version of Greece, like something from a bygone era. Most men cultivate their crops with their scythes while most women still walk around in their traditional dress. Men and women sit separately at village festivals, where musicians play the island-made bagpipes and lyre and sing in ancient styles. In the north of Kerpe Island you can sometimes find even older festivals where quaint customs are faithfully practised. You have to live it to believe it.