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Kos Island at Dodecanese

Dominated by its Castle of the Knights, old Kos town was destroyed in the 1933 earthquake. This revealed many ancient ruins which the Italians excavatad and restored.The harbour bristles with yachts and excursion boats and pavement cafes line the street. At night in high season you can almost get swept along by the crowds. There are palm trees, pines and gardens full of jasmine. Ancient and modern sit oddly side by side. Bar street runs beside the ancient agora, at night lit up by stropes and lasers. Hippocrates’ ancient plane tree, in Platia Platanou, is said to have been planted by him 2400 years ago. Despite its 14m diameter the present tree is only 500 years old and is probably a descendant of the original. The island has a pkeasant climate and some wonderful beaches, especially in the south and north.