Hellenic Ports Association

Samos is the birthplace of important personalities of the ancient world, such as the great philosopher and mathematician Pythagoras, the philosopher Epicurus, the astronomer-mathematician Aristarchus, and according to mythology, the goddess Hera was born on the island. The naval tradition of Samos is known from the 8th century BC, when the famous ‘’Samaina’’, a new type of ship with 50 oars, was built in the shipyards of the island in 522 BC. Pythagorion town is built on the ruins of ancient Samos, with its present port being the oldest artificial harbor of the Mediterranean, one of the island’s “marvelous works” according to Herodotus, which has been declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. Ano Vathy maintains unchanging elements of local traditional architecture, with narrow alleys, small traditional cafes, declared as traditional settlement. Cruise guests have the opportunity to admire the eighteenth miracle of antiquity. It is the ‘’Efpalinio’’ tunnel, which consisted the city’s aqueduct (depth 80m - 1046m long) and is world famous due to its construction taking into consideration the technical means of that time. The ‘’Polycratia’’ walls, part of which extend to the ridge of Mount “Kastro”, over Pythagorion, 6km of length,which has been declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. The Archaeological Museum, which hosts about 3,000 exhibits (vases and sculptures) from the ancient city of Samos as well as a statue of ‘’Kouros’’, one of the largest in Greece. The Palaeontological Museum in ‘’Mytilenioi’’ is also a place of interest. Folkloric Museum exist in ‘’Demetriou Foundation’’ at Pythagorion area, in which the traditional occupations of the island revive and reflect the image of the old ages. At a distance of 7km from Pythagorion, the archaeological site of ‘’Heraion’’ is located, where the homonymous temple is dedicated to the goddess Hera, declared as an UNESCO World Heritage Site. ...an island of thousand faces!