Tilos
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==Routes/Passages To/From== | ==Routes/Passages To/From== | ||
* [[Passages between Athens Region and Rhodes - Marmaris]] | * [[Passages between Athens Region and Rhodes - Marmaris]] | ||
| - | * [[Cruising the | + | * [[Cruising the Dodecanese Islands]] |
==Cruiser's Friends== | ==Cruiser's Friends== | ||
Revision as of 18:27, 10 June 2011
Tilos
 (Click links for more information)
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 | 36°24.97′N, 27°23.2′E |
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 | Photo gallery |
 | Local chartlet |
Tilos (Τήλος) or Telos is a fairly remote and off the beaten track island. It is not very picturesque but it is quiet and more true to its traditions than the more developed neighboring islands.
Telos has had an interesting history. It seems that the island was connected to Asia Minor and elephants roamed its land. When the island was separated from the mainland around 10,000 years ago, the descendants of these elephants evolved into a more compact size. Remains of these small elephants have been excavated.
According to the mythology, the island was named after Telos the son of the sun Helios and Alia. Alia got sick and the dutiful son came to this island to find herbs to cure his mother's sickness. After she was cured he built a sanctuary dedicated to Helios-Apollo and to Poseidon. He became its first priest.
In antiquity the island was fairly prosperous and had founded a colony in Sicily named Gela. Telos was a member of the Delian League. The island was famous for its export of perfumes. The poetess Erinna who was said to be a "female Homer" was from Telos. In the third century Telos was allied with Rhodes. In 226 BC there was an earthquake that destroyed part of its citadel, near today's Megalo Chorio. From 42 BC Telos came under the Romans.
During the middle ages Telos was known as Episcopi and was under the Knights of St. John from 1309 to 1522. It withstood several attacks by the Turks. Later Venetians and pirates raided the island. This continued as late as 1821 when the revolutionary Greek boats from Mykonos and Spetses raided it.
In 1912 Telos was occupied by the Italians, who called it Piscopi, and then in 1943 by the Germans who destroyed all of the island's livestock. Finally, in 1948, along with the rest of the Dodecanese, Telos was united with Greece.
In the 1990's the mayor of Telos, a member of Greenpeace, banned all hunting on the island and declared it a wildlife refuge. Since then, there is an active environmental conscience on the island and it is known as the Green Island of the Dodecanese. The island has now been designated as a Special Protected Area under the European Birds Directive, since it hosts endangered species such as the Bonelli's eagle, Mediterranean shag and Eleanora's falcon. The island now manages the SPA itself, planting trees, rehabilitating natural springs and encouraging traditional cereal crops in order to protect the habitat for these species. Details of the programme, which is funded under the LIFE-Nature scheme of the European Commission, are available at the Tilos Information Centre 200m south of the harbour in Livadhia.
Charts
Click for larger view
- BA
- 1055 Rhodes Channel and Gökova Körfezi
- Imray-Tetra
- G35 Dodecanese and Coast of Turkey
- NIMA
- 54400 Samos to Rodhos
- Greek
- 451 Leros to Rhodos
Radio Nets
Also see Cruiser's Nets
- Coast Guard - VHF channel 12
- Olympia Radio - VHF channels 01 & 63
Weather
See Aegean Sea.
All approaches to Tilos are without danger but, with the meltemi there can be very strong gusts and the harbour should be entered with care. Once inside the harbour, shelter is good, although a slight swell can creep in during strong winds.
Check-in facilities
There are two anchorages in Tilos, the small harbor of Livádia and a cove at the N of the island.
Ports and Popular Stops
Ports
Livádia
| 36°24.97′N, 27°23.2′E
Already one of the most yacht-friendly Greek harbours in the Aegean, Livadhia is now even more so with the establishment in 2008 of ten laid moorings along the main quay. As a result, no anchoring in the harbour is now permitted. Yachts go bow or stern to the quay as directed by the friendly Dutch harbourmistress, Eddie, or – subject to ferry schedules – alongside the inside of the mole. Depths at the quay are just over 3 metres and alongside the mole between 6 and 7 metres. Water and electricity are available at all berths. The harbour gets very busy in July and August and it is wise to arrive early to be sure of a berth in those months. Once the harbour is full, yachts anchor off in the bay (although a swell sets in with moderate to fresh winds and with strong winds the anchorage can become untenable). Warning: Anchoring-off should be avoided during strong winds. |  |
 Livádia Harbor from the South |
 Livádia Harbor from the East |
Anchorages
´Eristos
36°25.9′N, 27°20.8′E - Chartlet
´Eristos (Έριστος) is a fairly deep cove and offers good protection from the meletemi but it develops a rather uncomfortable swell. The beach is low key and very attractive. Few tavernas.
Anchor in 4-6 m depth. The bottom is sand very good holding.
The village of Megalo Chorio is about a 40 minute walk from here.
Ayios Antónios
36°27.6′N, 27°20′E - Chartlet
This cove is exposed to the N.
Marinas & Yacht Clubs
None.
Yacht Services and Repairs
Marine Stores
None.
Yacht Services/Repairs/Yards
None.
Fuel, Water, & Electricity
- Fuel
- Not available (N/A)
- Water
- On the quay of Livádia
- Electricity
- On the quay of Livádia (extra charge)
Offshore Islands
None.
Tourism and Things to do Ashore
Tourism
Megalo Chorio
Near Megalo Chorio is the Venetian castle, the Kastro, built on top of the ancient acropolis. The town is pretty, with whitewashed houses. There is a small museum with the bones of the miniature elephants. On July 28 and November 8, there is a festival here with local dances.
A few kilometers N of Megalo Chorio at the beach of Ayios Antónios there are the petrified remains of human skeletons of sailors caught in the lava of the Niseros eruption of 600 BC.
 From ´Eristos |
 A Street in Megalo Chorio |
Mikro Chorio
Along the road from Livathia to Eristos (Έρυστος), about an hour's walk, there is the deserted ghost village of Mikro Chorio. This is well worth a visit. There are two 15th century churches with frescoes. The village, which was the most populous in the island, was too remote from the sea and had no water. In older times people lived way inland because of the fear of the pirates, but as this fear receded the rational also went away. So, it was abandoned in 1950 and the inhabitants moved to harbor of Livádia. Now the only building that is not abandoned is a restored house that is being used as a bar/disco. It actually does look attractive. The marked "parking" area in this wasteland is kind of ludicrous. It is all very spooky!
A short distance from the village there is the cave where the bones of the pigmy elephants were found in 1971. These were supposedly the last elephants in Europe. They were killed around 4000 BC.
 The Central Street |
 Abandoned House |
Grocery Stores
- There is very good bakery and several food stores in Livádia
Eateries
- The Trata and the Irina restaurants in Livádia are recommended
- The Armenon restaurant also offers a slightly more creative version of Greek cuisine than most tavernas.
- The To Kastro restaurant in Megalo Chorio is very popular and serves outstanding grilled meats.
Internet/WiFi
In Internet cafés.
Laundry
N/A.
Motorbike & Car Rentals
?
Garbage Disposal
There are bins around the harbors and in several anchorages.
Transportation
There are ferries to Athens, twice a week, and hydrofoils to Kos and Rhodes.
Routes/Passages To/From
Cruiser's Friends
Contact details of "Cruiser's Friends" that can be contacted for local information or assistance.
Forum Discussions
List links to discussion threads on partnering forums. (see link for requirements)
External Links
References & Publications
See Greece.
Last Visited & Details Checked (and updated here)
Date of member's visit to this Port/Stop & this page's details validated:
- July 2009 --Summercruise 14:49, 10 July 2009 (UTC)
- July 2009 --Atheneoflymington 10:38, 11 July 2009 (UTC)
- August 2009 --Istioploos
Personal Notes
A secure harbour - now even more so with the laid moorings - on one of the most beautiful islands in the Dodecanese. It is a joy to see the efforts being made to preserve the unique environmental features of the island for the benefit of the endangered bird species that inhabit it. You go to your grave a poorer man if you've never seen an Eleanora's falcon hunting dragonflies on the wing ... --Atheneoflymington 11:04, 13 July 2009 (UTC)
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| | HOMEPAGE | Wiki Contents | Mediterranean | Aegean Sea | Greece | Tilos | |
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