Sokastro island near Lefkos | Karpathos travel guide

The small islet near Lefkos is called Sokastro, and it mostly known by its Byzantian ruins.

Sokastro is located on the western side of Karpathos, just about 1 kilometer away from Kato Lefkos village. This small island was probably a small peninsula of the main island once, which was separated from Karpathos after a huge earthquake.

Sokastro island is primarily a barren, rocky place with steep cliffs, but Greek archeologists were found some ruins of medieval buildings and walls from the Byzantine times. The legends said that the Byzantine emperor himself, Nikephoros II Phokas had a shelter in Sokastro, while he was fighting against the pirates.

In the area of Lefkos this small islet, Sokastro is secluded and uninhabitated place, which has just a few visitors during the summer months. It’s an important information, that this small islet can be accessed only by boat, or only if you swim! From the north beach of Lefkos called Frangolimiona Beach (Παραλία Φραγκολιμιώνα) there is a dirt road which leads to the island, where distance is about hundred meters from the mainland.