Koskinou
Koskinou (Greek: Κοσκινού) with a population of 3.224 is a beautiful village at 7 km from the capital, built atop of a hill overlooking the east coast of Rhodes. Although it is located in one of the most developed residential areas on the island, the village is a protected settlement still retaining its traditional character. Koskinou is one of the oldest villages on the island, byzantine coins and other artefacts indicate that the village existed well before the 15th century. Walking around the village you will find traces from the ancient Greek and the Byzantine eras.
How to get here
If you’re coming from Rhodes town in the north, get onto the Rhodes-Lindos highway and head in to Faliraki. You will drive passing the outskirts of the town and the industrial zone of Asgourou. Continue on this road for another 2 km and when you arrive at a large intersection with no traffic lights, turn left and follow the winding road towards Koskinou.
Narrow winding streets with beautiful neoclassic houses painted in bright, vibrant colors, lead down to the lively, main square of the village. In a typical village house you enter through a highly decorated door into a courtyard full of flower pots, jasmine trees and bougainvilleas. In many houses you will find impressive, stone made, arched portals and heavy wooden doors. The floors in both the courtyards and the inside of the house are covered with black and white pebble mosaics bearing Rhodian motifs (hohlaki). Inside the houses the walls are full of amazingly decorated ceramic dishes and hand-woven wall hangings. Wooden raised bed platforms with a storage room underneath are positioned near the walls with no windows.
Around the village there are a number of interesting attractions. You can start with the small, domed church of Aghia Irini (more than 200 years old) and Aghios Lukas a tiny, early 4th century Christian Basilica temple. Then there is the church of the Virgin Mary, the biggest temple in Koskinou village. A small Knights’ castle is located on the outskirts of the village. The views from here are stupendous. In addition, many ancient graves, some set into boulders, can be seen scattered around the village.
The unique colors and impressive facades of the traditional houses of Koskinou have always been the subject of many coffee-table books. In fact Lindos, Koskinou would be the second most photographed village (after Lindos). There are a large number of small-scale, private holiday accommodations for those who wish to stay here and experience the traditional mood of the village. Koskinou enjoys the most spectacular views of the sparkling blue seas in the distance and it is very close to Kalithea Springs and to the famous resort of Faliraki. The village is well known for its traditional cuisine, there are many popular restaurants and tavernas here. There is a major festival on July 17th when the village celebrates the name day of St. Marina with traditional song and dance events, a banquet of food and drink, as well as stalls selling various goods.