Just 4 kilometers from the Turkish city of Bodrum, the island of Kos was known in antiquity especially because Hippocrates, the father of medicine, was born there. In the city of Kos, the origins of the Greek physician are imprinted and recalled in the so-called Hippocrates’ Plane Tree (considered one of the largest in Europe), because according to legend under such a specimen Hippocrates taught his students the art of medicine. On the 5th of September each year, the women of Kos perform a sort of ritual with the branches of the plane tree so that they may receive good health, vigor, and longevity.
The magic of history comes alive on the island of Kos not only through natural beauty and traditions but also in the various archaeological sites. Worth noting is the Castle of Neratzia, located on a small islet to the south of the port of the city of Kos. Of strategic importance, the fortress was built by the Knights of St. John using material from the many Greek and Roman ruins in the area.
Another very important fortification, although little known, is the fortress of Antimachia built in the 15th century to strengthen the island’s internal defense. In its 45,000 square meters of extension, it is possible to discover the remains of granaries, cisterns, churches, and houses from the era.
