Kalymnos beaches

The arid, mountainous island of Kalymnos, is one of the 12 Dodecanese islands in the southeast Aegean Sea. Historically, the local economy was based on sponge collecting, for which the island was famous throughout Greece. Today, thanks to its dramatic landscapes, unspoilt nature and lack of commercialisation, tourism is becoming increasingly important. The island's main port is the large town of Pothia, where the sponge industry was based. Pastel-coloured Italianate mansions are built into the hillsides around the port, forming an amphitheatre-like impression. The rest of the island offers an indented coastline with dramatic fjords, secluded coves and limestone cliffs. Being arid, vegetation is sparse; the small fertile valley of Vathi offers the only cultivatable land, and citrus fruits are grown here. The best beaches and main resorts, Massouri and Myrties, lie along the west coast, affording views of the volcanic islet of Telendos. Smaller resorts on the west coast include Panormos, Emborios and Plati Gialos. Since the late 1990s, there have been moves to encourage alternative tourism on the island: the limestone cliffs and rocky crags make it a ideal rock climbing destination, and Kalymnos is one of the few Greek islands where sea kayaking is on offer.