Paleo Pili

The old Pili is one of the most visited historical sites on Kos. The already abaonded village located in the foothills of the highest peak of the island, Díkeos, was founded in the place protected against the pirates from the sea. In 1830, after a cholera epidemic, the village was abandoned and today´s  Pili was founded about 4 km far away. The houses of the old Pili fell apart with time. The best preservd is the main church in the village, Ypapanti, built in the 14th cenutry, with mural paintings and columns that were used from the ancient temple of Demeter that originally used to stand there. Above the original settlement, there rise the ruins of a Byzantine fortress from the 11th century with a paved path leading to it. Tourists enter the fortress through an impressive Byzantine gate with shell-like niches. From the fortress, there is a splendid view on the north coast of the island with the resorts of Marmari and Tigaki, and the island of Kalymnos and Pserimos in the background. The area of Paleo Pili is freely accessible.