LOCATION

The island of Samos is situated at the eastern part of the Aegean Sea, close to the shore of Asia Minor, from which it is separated by the Mykalis strait.The distance to Piraeus is 175 nautical miles.Together with the islands of Ikaria and Fourni, it respresents the Prefecture of Samos.

Population

Approximately 35.000.

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Capital

Samos Town-Vathi

History

The earliest inhabitants of Samos were the Carians the Pelasgians, the Leleges and the Phoenicians. In ancient times Samos reached its peak of prosperity and cultural achievement under the rule of the tyrant Polycrates in 532 BC. After his death, the island came under Persian rule, which was thrown off after the sea battle of Mykali in 479 BC. In 1476 AD, a famine and terrible earthquake forced its inhabitants to abandon the island and it was not resettled until 1573. Little by little the inhabitants started to prosper again up to 1820. The people of Samos, led by Lykourgos Logothetis, were among the first to join the struggle for liberation from the Turks in 1821. In 1912 Samos was incorporated into Greece.

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Characteristics

The island of Samos combines lush green hillsides with long, sandy or shigle beaches, crystal-clear waters traditional villages, majestic monasteries and a wealth of unique products. It is an island of hospitaly, sweet wine and beautiful scenery as well as being the eighth largest Greek island, with a surface area of 476 square kilometres.

Apart from the production of its famous wines it exports olive oil, vegetables, fruits, ceramics and fish. Samos is known all over the world as ze birthplace of the philosopher, mathematician and phyicist Pythagoras. It ist also the sacred island of the goddess Hera whose sanctuary is among most treasured possessions of Samos.