//
Photo: Tomisti, CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons
The Heraion of Samos was a large sanctuary to the goddess Hera, on the island of Samos, Greece, 6 km southwest of the ancient city of Samos. It was located in the low, marshy basin of the Imbrasos river, near where it enters the sea. The late Archaic temple in the sanctuary was the first of the gigantic free-standing Ionic temples, but its predecessors at this site reached back to the Geometric Period of the 8th century BC, or earlier, and there is evidence of cult activities on the site from c. 1700 BC onwards. The ruins of the temple, along with the nearby archeological site of Pythagoreion, were designated UNESCO World Heritage Sites in 1992, as a testimony to their exceptional architecture and to the mercantile and naval power of Samos during the Archaic Period.
© OpenStreetMap contributors
Long beach of 3 km approximately, with sand and pebbles having moderate water depth. Offers a variety of services such as umbrellas, sun beds, shower facilities, beach bars, beach volley and water sports equipment, while there are many places that offer tranquility and comfort. In the area there are restaurants, big hotels and lodgings.
The original building was built in the early 17th century, according to an inscription on the cross that was placed in the foundations of the temple. The global founded in great depth and mounted on wooden beams took its current form in 1838. Its rood screen is a work of outstanding quality, as is the pulpit and the bishop's throne. Has a close relationship with the Jerusalem Patriarchate because among the Sacred Relics of exists a piece of Holy wood, which is set for veneration.
Founded in 1586 on the South side of Samos and is dedicated to the Assumption. Suffered many invasions and plundered by pirates and barbarians. Inside the Catholic, it is rescued the old marble tiling with composite umbilical in the center. The bas-relief is framed by early Christian marble slabs. The whole church is painted by unknown painter, who must have known the art of Athos.
The workmen of ancient Samos were extracting soft limestone with primitive tools which was used in the temple of Hera and for construction of city buildings. The mines have forty-five entrances and eight levels. As of today many old inhabited houses in Pythagorion conspicuously incorporate structural elements which were molded in ancient times.
A tunnel of 1036 m was hewn through the hill and below the city’s defensive wall to serve as a safe aqueduct in case of siege while providing an escape route. What made it an extraordinary engineering feat and a project management paradigm is the fact that two different teams begun simultaneously from both sides of the hill and they succeeded, with a negligible deviation, to meet just under the top of the hill in 180 m of depth, despite they were obliged to deviate from straight line due to frailty rocks.
Small beach about 100 m with pebbles and sandy bottom having moderate water depth and protected in the bay of Pythagorion. The beach is well organized with sun beds, umbrellas and shower. In the area there are restaurants, big hotels and lodgings.