Kalymnos – Pothia, the Vathys Valley, and the South of the island – the valley of Vathys

The valley of Vathys
The ideal way to arrive at *Vathis is by boat into its dramatic fjord-like inlet, or—failing that—by taking the old flagstone kalderimi, rebuilt during the Italian occupation, over the hills northeast of Pothia, which leaves from be side the church of Aghia Triada, not far above the Vouvalis Mansion. It is a shade-less, but panoramic, two-hour walk, passing in the first 20 minutes below the vestigial remains of the acropolis (to east) of the ancient settlement of Pothaia. But the density of things to be seen in the Vathis valley unfortunately requires a long time to visit by foot, and so a car or bicycle is all but essential. The asphalt road east of Pothia passes along the scarred and barren south coast of the island: there are fine views to Turkey as it turns north; then the valley of Vathis suddenly comes into view, paved with intense green vegetation. The intermittent sounds of goat-bells, barking dogs and the crowing of cocks, are a complete contrast to the noise and activity of Pothia. The valley has the wide, sculpted form of a glacial glen, but is in fact part alluvial plain and part an inlet of the sea that has silted and remained fertile: it was intensively cultivated in Antiquity, has seen habitation since earliest times, and is unusually rich in Early Christian remains.