The Green Island of the world-famous mathematician Pythagoras and the astrophysicist Aristarchus with its long dreamy sandy beaches, crystal clear deep blue waters, traditional settlements, picturesque narrow streets, wonderful routes offers for unforgettable holidays. Awash in greenery, with endless unique vineyards, lush vegetation and enchanting sunsets, it is ready to welcome you on your summer excursions and quests.
Samos produces many types of products, the main ones being the famous and well-known sweet Samian wine as well as oil. However, in recent years, tourism has also begun to develop dynamically. From April the island changes its appearance and especially in the summer months the island is flooded with tourists.
Ideal for lovers of natural life and beauty, the trails and enchanting scenic locations lend themselves to hiking and climbing. With its ecological, historical and paleontological interest, the island will satisfy even the most demanding visitor. Tradition and folklore through the revival of morals and customs emerges in every traditional settlement of the island. The art of woodcarving is displayed through the wonderful iconostasis of the churches, the art of iconography is impressive and together with the church architecture arbitrarily imposes the admiration of the visitors. The Aegean architecture and the widespread benevolent hospitality of the inhabitants turn the island into a summer haven of enjoyment and relaxation.

Editor: Fotini Anastasopoulou

More popular and introverted is the building tradition in Samos, which preserves age-old elements from the insular Aegean-Pelagitian settlement. The oldest settlements were built in the interior of the island, in places completely invisible from the sea, due to the fear of pirate raids. In newer - safer - periods, the ports were developed and acquired an autonomous residential dimension. Samos is the only island in the Eastern Aegean in which the age-old tradition of the roofed building survived until recently, perhaps because it remained an agricultural, "closed" and self-sufficient island, without external cultural influences, until the beginning of the 19th century. The architecture of the roofed houses of Samos is extremely simple, without particularly morphological elements, and is characterized by the strict purity of the cubic volume.
The buildings are usually two stories. Agricultural activities are carried out downstairs, while the upstairs is the main residence of the family. Access to the first floor is via an external stone staircase, which leads to a centrally placed entrance. On one side of the space, a small elevation of the floor creates the sofa, for the whole family to sleep, while the rest of the room, which includes the fireplace, remains single, to serve the other functions of the day. Often this separation is implemented with the existence of an intermediate partition made of light construction (wood or chatma) or with a large wardrobe with rich wood-carved decoration, the mesandra.

Source: Encyclopedia of Major Hellenism
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