Pastel coloured houses rumbling down the hillside to the harbour, wild herbs, the smell of freshly caught fish grilling over charcoal, small fishing boats and a maze of colourful narrow streets. Symi town lies at the end of a horseshoe shaped harbour and is split into two parts. The harbour of Yialo with its selection of shops and stalls which come to life when the day-trippers invade. Avoid the c
rowds by catching a small Kaiki to a more secluded beach. Peace returns once the excusion boats have departed when the harbour becomes the perfect setting to enjoy a meal in one of the tavernas. Nestling high above the harbor is CHORIO, a traditional village almost untouched by tourism. From there the road snakes down to PEDI with its small sandy beach, couples tavernas and bars, well worth the fifteen minute walk from Chorio. An experience not to be missed is "the bus" which regularly takes weary walkers up to Chorio, it charters down to Pedi and comes back again or you can use one of the island's few taxis. At the beginning of the century, Symi had an economical rising. The main product was picking sea sponges. The 30,000 inhabitants were also able to service comfortably off this product because their market was spread all over the Mediterranean. The beautiful beaches and the crystal sea, some of the many natural beauties of Symi. Other ports are Pedi which is a calm holiday resort, Marathounda, Nanou and Panormos. In Panormitis, there is a monastery called Taxiarchis Michael the Panormite which it represents the art and civilization of the time. It features a wood carved tempium, Byzantine wall of fresco, an important library and a museum on its premises.
