Dodecanese

The island complex of Dodecanese (The 12 islands) in south-eastern Aegean is the sunniest corner in Greece. Twelve large islands and numerous smaller ones with crystal clear waters, sandy or pebbly beaches, important archaeological finds, imposing Byzantine and medieval monuments and unique traditional settlements are waiting to be discovered. This    group of    actually15 larger and 150 smaller Greek islands in the southeastern Aegean Sea and Eastern Mediterranean of which 26 are inhabited. Rhodes has been the area's dominant island since antiquity. Of the others, Kos and Patmos are historically the most important; the remaining 12 are Agathonisi, Astypalaia, Halki, Kalymnos, Karpathos, Kasos, Leipsoi, Leros, Nisyros, Symi, Tilos, and Kastellorizo. Other islands in the chain include Alimia, Arkoi, Farmakonisi, Gyali, Kinaros, Levitha, Marathos, Nimos, Pserimos, Saria, Strongyli and Syrna. Access is mainly through the international airports of Rhodes or Kos but there are many ferry connections as much as with Pireus as with eastern Crete and the Cyclades islands. Also many boats leave the ports of Kos and Rhodes towards the smaller Dodecanese islands