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The
port village of Diafani-A few words (ÄéáöÜíé)
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Diafani and its bay as seen from atop the
winmill mountain range. Direction: North |
The traces of Minoan settlement in the Cove of Cambi
Bay, the ruins of Hellenistic public baths in the Loutro (bath) site and
the nameplace Palaia (ancient) are signs that the Diafani site has been
chosen for settlement since the ancient times. Because of the Arabic raids,
the inhabitants of the region were also forced to abandon their homes and
take refuge in the mountainous and hard-to-access nearby Olymbos
which maintained a castle around the central and highest part of the village
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Diafani in the summer during sunrise: The
fishing boats are
getting ready to steam out to sea. Direction:
East |
In the end of the 19th century, when the sailing
boats of the pirates were forced out by engine-powered battleships, the
inhabitants of the castle in Olymbos took heart and moved down to settlements
by the sea, just as the inhabitants of Koráki (village of Aperi) moved
down to Pigádia (officially recently renamed "Kárpathos" and capital city
of the island) during the same era. The reason for moving to Diafáni is
certainly not the fact that there was an ancient settlement there. The
main reason was that the bay would serve the needs of the people who had
to go to Saria
to cultivate their lands or establish trade with the surrounding islands.
The bay is the least exposed to wind and high waves and the closest one
to both, Olymbos and Saria.
Diafani and its bay as seen from a boat during
a calm autumn day. This is
unprecedented peace and serenity. Direction:
West. |
Diafani has experienced a dramatic development especially
since after World War II. You can locate Diafani on the map
on the northeast coast of Karpathos. Notice the bay on the picture above.
Excerpts and material for this page have been obtained
from the book "Olimpos
and Diafani in Karpathos" published by the Community
of Olymbos. We’ll make an effort to present and promote that, as well
as other books and publications
about Olymbos, Diafani, and Karpathos in the future.
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