Halki Island
The island of peace and friendship
Halki was
designated by Unesco as the island of peace and friendship of international
youth and welcomes anyone seeking calm and relaxing holidays.
Pelasgi,
kares, Durians and Phoenicians all resided on the island at different
times. Halki owes its name to the copper
mines which existed during medieval times.
Overall, there are very few historical findings that shed light on the
history of Halki. Throughout antiquity,
the island was divided into 30 municipalities and formed an alliance with
Rhodes from an early stage. The ruins of
three temples dedicated to Apollo, well preserved, confirm the fact that the
god was worshiped throughout antiquity, at a time when Halki was known mainly
for its sponge fishing.
In the 14th
century the Knights of Rhodes granted Halki to the assanti Family as a
fief. The family built their Castle
above the ruins of an ancient fortressed acropolis. Further downhill, at trahia, ruins possibly
from a prehistoric settlement as well as classical and Hellenistic walls have
been discovered.
From the
mid-19th century onwards and under Turkish domination. Halki reached
the golden age of prosperity. Along with
Symi, Kalymnos and Kastellorizo the islands developed their trade, sponge
fishing and considerably increased the population’s intellectual and financial
status. Unfortunately, in the final
years of Turkish rule and during Italian domination the privileged rights once
given to the island were removed, trade and sponge fishing took a hit and the
“bleeding” of the population with the wave of immigration started. Halki’s integration with the rest of Greece
took place in 1948.
The
island’s only populated village, Halki or Nimporio, is positioned amphitheatrically
around the windless harbor. Two
sleepless guards, the small island of Nisos and Krevvati, stand protectively at
the harbor’s entrance facing the two and three storey uniform stone houses with
their balconies, colorful doors and windows and tiled roofs. The village has been classed as traditional
and became an honorary municipality. It
exudes class but also creates a sense of sadness when realizing how many of
these beautiful houses have now been abandoned.
They stand
proud however, with their back seemingly resting on the bare mountains, which
in turn surround the small town providing an air of grandeur and a appealing
sense of mystery. As you stroll along
the scenic roads, do not forget to look out for the neoclassical Council
building, dating back to the 19th century, and the stone clock tower
standing beside it, tall and proud. If
you visit the church of the island’s patron saint, Agios Nikolaos, built in
1861, you can admire the unique belfry, the hagiographies and rare wooden iconostasis.
On the top
of the hill above the village, towers the Castle of the Knights with a
breathtaking view of neighboring Rhodes.
Numerous churches and monasteries enrich the list of sights to see at
Halki.
The island
currently has 200 permanent residents which occupy themselves with tourism, a
field which developed substantially after 1983 when the appropriate
infrastructure was created and the island was declared the worldwide centre of
piece and friendship of young people.