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Kymi (GREECE -EVIA island)

Kymi (GREECE -EVIA island)  is a beautiful town and port on the eastern coast of  Evia.   It is located  87 km from Chalkida with a population of approximately 3,000 inhabitants.    The town is built amphitheatrically on a hill overlooking the sea offering panoramic views of the Aegean Sea.   For that reason, Kymi is often called “the balcony of the Aegean Sea”.

Apart from the port that connects Evia with Skyros island, Kymi is a town with history and very interesting sights.  It has a strong naval past and in the 19th century had a rich economy as it was a large commercial center.    Especially the area of Kymi makes excellent products such as olive oil, figs, wine, and cherries.   Noteworthy is the silk and cocoons that make the famous handmade hoods.

It is the municipal community of the newly enlarged Municipality of Kimi – Aliveri, of which it is the historic seat.

Kymi vegetation
Partial view of Kymi and vegetation

 

 

Kimi central square
View from the central square of Kimi

From the mid-19th century to the beginning of the 20th century, Kymi has witnessed days of economic, social and cultural growth, because of the trade conducted with other commercial centers in the Black Sea and France.    It is noteworthy that shipowners from Kymi carry the products of Kimi and especially their famous black wine in these ports, and especially in Marseilles, where the French buy it to paint their own wines.   As a result for Kymi, money is coming in, along with new ideas from contact with developed European centers, and urban consciousness develops.   Hence, you may clearly see this in the buildings, in the costumes with its renaissance effects, in the cottage industry, and in lifestyle.  

 

Kymi traditional house
Kymi traditional house

 

Many of the old houses and mansions represent four architectural types of different periods.

 

SIGHTSEEING -Points of interest for the visitor

The house of George Papanikolaou in Kymi of Evia island

It is noteworthy that among other famous people born in Kymi is the internationally known physician George Papanikolaou, who developed the diagnosis of uterine cancer (PAP TEST).   The house where doctor Papanikolaou lived has been renovated and is in good condition.

Kymi George Papanikolaou House
The house of George Papanikolaou

 

To honor the famous physician Georgios Papanikolaou, his compatriots have placed his statue on the central square of the town. 

Georgios Papanikolaou
Georgios Papanikolaou

 

The Folklore Museum of Kymi

The Cultural and Civil Association of Kymi founded The Folklore Museum in 1981.   It is housed in a late 19th-century neoclassical building, located in a central area of the city.  The citizens of Kimi donated the collection of the Museum, which numbers about 1600 objects.  The Museum has rich collections of objects representing various sectors such as   Textiles (mainly silk ), Embroidery,  Metalworking.    Also, Ceramics, Wood sculpture, Lithographic sculptures and Folk Painting.  In this historical period, the Folk Museum of Kymi is mentioned in various sources.

 

The Folklore Museum of Kymi

 

Furthermore,  some of the displayed artifacts of the Folklore Museum of Kymi are local costumes, military uniforms of the Balkan Wars and vestments of Saint Nektarios.   Moreover, sacred utensils, wood carvings, household utensils.  and archives (Photographic, Sound, Film.   Finally, in the Museum’s halls, the visitor will see the representation of a representative house of Kymi with the living room and the bedroom.

 

 

RELIGIOUS MONUMENTS

Church of  “PANAGIA ODIGITRIA” in Kymi

The church was built in 1849, and the Tinian sculptor Ioannis Halepas contributed with a marble “iconostasi”.

The Church of "Panagia Odigitrias" in Kymi
The Church of “Panagia Odigitrias” in Kymi

 

Τhe bell tower and the dome of the church
Τhe bell tower and the dome of the church

 

OTHER SITES

Port of Kymi

The harbor of kymi

The harbor of kymi

The route from the port to the town of Kymi is a special route going uphills for about 5 kilometers, with picturesque surroundings and twenty-five turns.

 

GASTRONOMY

Gastronomy  in Kymi (GREECE -EVIA island)

The most famous products produced in Kymi Evia are figs, cherries, and olive oil.   In addition, you may also find pastries and sweets such as baklava and almonds.

 

Sweet taste is the Koumian"koumiotikos" baklavas
Sweet taste is the Koumian”koumiotikos” baklavas
Almonds
Almonds

 

 

TRAVEL INFORMATION

How to get to  Kymi (GREECE -EVIA island)

Kymi is about 180 km away from Athens, 85 km from Chalkida (passing through Vassiliko, Eretria to Amarynthos and Aliveri) and 140 km via Ferry Boat Oropou-Eretria.    The journey starts in Chalkida in the direction of South Evia, passing through the villages of Vassiliko, Eretria, Amarynthos, Aliveri, Lepoura, Stomio Oxylithos beach, Platana and the port of Kimi.   The final part of the trip from the port uphills to the town of Kymi is 5Km and includes several turns.