SAMOS, Greek islands

Samos, the island of goddess Hera, of the great philosophers Pythagoras "the father of Mathematics" and Epicurus and the famous astronomer Aristarchus, is one of the eastern most Greek islands of the Aegean Sea. It is separated from Turkey by the strait of Mykale about 2 kms wide.
A range of mountains runs through the island. The capital Vathy is situated on the Northern coast wich is rocky , while the South coast has fertile plains and beautifull beaches.
The island is thickly wooded and known for its fertility from the antiquity, famous especially for the sweet Samian wine.
Samos was inhabitated in the Neolithic Period by the Pelasgians who established the goddes Hera.
Under the Tyranny of Polycrates, the island became one of the principal cities of Ionia.
The tyrrant Polycrates (532 BC) was a statesman of genius and profligate brigant. During this period the great engineer Eupalinos built the famous tunnel to provide the town whith drinking water which came from Great Spring. Two crews began digging the tunnel on both sides of the mountain simultaneously and thanks to the mathematical calculations of Eupalinos, they met in the middle of the mountain with no deviation... 

The principal excursions on the island are to Ancient Samos, to Heraion, to Pythagoreion , to Karlovassi to the waterfalls where the scenery is breathtaking and to the monasteries.
The site of Ancient Samos lies on the South coast of the island. The great Sanctuary of Hera "Heraion" is situated by the sea. According to mythology the goddess was born and grew up here. The same legend states that here also took place her sacred matrimony with Zeus, the father of the Olympian Gods.
The first temple of Hera was built in the 8th c. BC . The second was built in 570 by the two famous archtct- sculptors Rhoikos and Theodore. At that time the Heraion was at the height of its glory, decorated with wonderful offerings, excellent works of art from the Hellenic worldo but also from Syria, Egypt and Cyprus.The statue of Hera belongs to this era, a masterpiece of Samian art that today is in the Louvre.
After the destruction of this temple in 530 BC the enlightened Polycrates started the construction of  the last temple which according to Herodotus was the biggest building in the whole Hellenic world. The construction stopped after the death of Polycrates so the temple remained unfinished.
Today one can see its foundations and the only column that is preserved. In the sanctuary are ruins of a portico, the great Altar and three small temples from different periods. Many well preserved findings from the excavations of the Heraion are in the museum of Samos.
From the monasteries the most important are: The Monastery of Zoodochos Pigi founded in 1756 from where you have a magnificent view of the Strait of Mykale. In the plain of Vlamari is the Monastery of Ayia Zoni founded in 1695 and the Monastery of Vrontiani which is the oldest of the island founded in 1566.
Samos is a modern island with beautiful organized beaches as Tsamados, Votsalakia, Ghryssi Ammos (=golden sand) and Psili Ammos. It has cosmopolitan places as Vathy, Kokkari and Pythagoreion but also quiet and isolated places ideal for rest and relaxation as Marathokambos, Mykali and Kerveli.