Kos City Maps

Kos is the main town and port of the island of Kos in the Dodecanese archipelago. The town has a population of approximately 19,000 and is located on the northeastern coast of the island. Kos is historically significant as the birthplace of Hippocrates, the father of medicine, in approximately 460 BCE.

The Castle of the Knights, also known as Neratzia Castle, was built by the Knights of Saint John in the 14th and 15th centuries to defend against Ottoman attacks. The fortress incorporates ancient materials, including columns and inscriptions from earlier structures. Nearby stands the Plane Tree of Hippocrates, a massive tree purportedly 2,400 years old, where tradition claims Hippocrates taught his students.

The Ancient Agora covers a large area in the town center, with ruins from the Hellenistic and Roman periods, including temples, a gymnasium, and restored columns. The Casa Romana, a reconstructed Roman villa from the 3rd century CE, features well-preserved mosaics and frescoes. The Archaeological Museum of Kos displays sculptures, mosaics, and artifacts from throughout the island's history. The Asclepeion, located 4 kilometers from town, was an ancient healing temple and medical school dedicated to Asclepius, built on three terraces. The town suffered significant damage from a 1933 earthquake, after which Italian authorities undertook extensive archaeological excavations during the reconstruction.