A02 Patmos Highlights

This varied tour is perfect for those who want just a little bit more.

The tour visits the Cave of the Apocalypse home to the birth of the Book of Revelation, the last book in the Holy Bible. In 95AD, at the time of the perse- cution of the Christians, St. John was exiled to the Island of Patmos where the vision of the Revelation was revealed to him in this small cave which has now become a place of worship and an important destination for pilgrims.

On leaving the Cave we drive to the old village of Chora, high on the hilltop where one will have the opportunity to photograph the breathtaking panoram- ic view over the island and discover the stunning architecture of houses dating from the fifteen to eighteen hundreds.

Chora, the islands capital, houses the 11th century Monastery of St. John the Theologian. Here one can get a glimpse of monastic life and absorb timeless history through the magnificent ecclesiastical artifacts of its museum. Among the Monastery’s treasures are frescoes of the founder Christodoulou and miracles of St. John, ancient documents dating from the 6th century, vest- ments, silverware and numerous icons including a work attributed to El Greco.

From the Monastery we walk through the winding cobbled streets of Chora to the house of Simandiris.

Mansion of Simantiris is the oldest mansion of Patmos , the construction of which dates back to 1625.Keeping its traditional – classic style , dominates the cultural side of the island , whilst a particular highlight is the extensive collection of artworks including paintings, icons and jewellery ,some dating back as far as the 14th century.

The most impressive part of the mansion’s history is that the building still belongs to the same family. The guided tour in the exhibition place is given by the last direct descendent ,who is the 14th generation of the original family.

Before returning to the port of Skala we conclude our tour with a walk through Chora and browse the open air shops.

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