Informations about Kasos

Geographical & Historical Outline

Kasos, the southernmost of the Dodecanese islands has an area of 64 square kilometers and 50 kilometers of coastline.
It is just 3 nautical miles south of Karpathos and 27 nautical miles north of Crete.

It has low mountains, small valleys through which torrents flow in winter, steep coasts and several impressive caves.

In ancient times Kasos was called Amfis, Achne and Astrabe.
The earliest traces of human habitation on the island date from the Final Neolithic – Early Bronze Age.
In historical times the ancient capital, also called Kasos was at the area of Poli.

The history of the island is closely bound up with that of the neighbouring island of Karpathos.

During the Roman and Early Christian periods the main settlement on the island was apparently transferred to the coast around Emborios bay, where there are traces of two Early Christian basilicas.

In 1207 the island was captured by the Venetians occupying Crete.
In 1311 it was taken by the Knights of St John of Jerusalem, but following the intervention of the pope, Kasos and Karpathos were returned to the possession of Venice in 1315, so remaining until 1537, when they were conquered by the Ottomans.

During the period of Turkish domination, the islanders built up a strong merchant fleet, which they placed at the disposal of the struggle for national liberation of 1821.
In May 1824, Kasos was completely destroyed by a combined Turkish and Egyptian fleet, and the few inhabitants that survived left the island, returning to it several years later.