Kalymnos Caves

Kalymnos has a rich collection of caves caused by the island’s unique rock compositions. In addition to their geological significance, many of the caves spread throughout the island are of much archaeological interest, having been inhabited or used are religious sites in antiquity.

The most prominent of the Kalymnos caves is the cave of Kefalas or Trypa, which can be visited by boat. Discovered by oceanographer Anastasios Christomanos in 1960, it features imposing stalactites and stalactites, while traces of ancient rituals dedicated to Zeus were also found there. Then, there is the Cavern of the Nymphs, also known as the Cave of the Seven Virgins, situated at the foot of Mount Flaska. The richly decorated cave of Skalia is situated close to the village of Skalia on the north side of the island and is distinguished for being the largest cave in all of Kalymnos.

Lying near Pothia is the cave of Choiromantres, where findings from the Neolithic to the Christian times were unearthed. Similar discoveries were made in Stimenia Cave, located on the northeast side of Vathy, attesting to the area’s residential use in ancient times. Neolithic and late Minoan-age pottery were found in Daskalio Cave in Vathy, which is one of the hardest-to-access caves on the island.

Besides these caves, many less-known caves dot the landscape of the island, but most of them either remain unexplored or are closed off for fear of getting lost. You can see many caves in the rocky mountains near the areas of Emporio, Myrties, and Skalia.