In Olympos, Karpathos

Deeply rooted on the slopes of Karpathos, Olympos stands as a living museum of tradition and culture, not only for the island itself but for Greece as a whole. We visited the imposing village of Olympos in the Dodecanese, where its inhabitants, with their authenticity and simplicity, welcomed us into a world where customs and traditions have remained untouched for centuries.

Wandering through the village's narrow alleys, we were greeted by women dressed in their traditional costumes, who live and cook in the way they learned from their grandmothers. In Olympos, cooking goes beyond art; it is a spiritual act that honors nature and tradition. Local products, from wheat to aromatic herbs, form the foundation for the creation of unique dishes that carry with them the memories and wisdom of the past.

The cuisine of Olympos is rich in traditional flavors such as goat with chondros (cracked wheat), local vegetables, and the famous Karpathian pittakia, filled with fresh myzithra cheese and aromatic wild greens. These dishes are primarily cooked in wood-fired ovens, giving them a distinctive flavor found nowhere else.

One of the most emblematic dishes we tasted was the traditional makarounes—handmade pasta served with sautéed onion and local cheese. The simplicity of this dish is striking, with flavors that are full of aromas and memories.

Olympos is not only about flavors, but also about the faces encountered at every step. Its people live in harmony with nature and are deeply connected to tradition. Every conversation with them becomes a lesson in history, offering insight into the customs, dances, and celebrations that come alive each summer.

Visitors to Olympos have the opportunity to experience the summer panigyria (festivals), where food, music, and dance connect the past with the present. Traditional songs and the melodies of the lyra and laouto accompany the festivities, while dishes are served with abundance and care, elevating the concept of hospitality to its highest expression.

A summer visit to Olympos, Karpathos is not merely a joyful escape, but a journey into a world where traditions live and breathe through everyday life. With its authentic flavors and warm-hearted people, Olympos remains one of the rare places where one can truly touch the authentic soul of Greece.