The old town of Marathokabos preserves features of traditional Samian architecture. The houses stand close together, often sharing party walls; narrow paved lanes and passageways with distinctive arches run between them. It is therefore not just a single building, but the interplay of houses, paths and arches that shapes the character of the town.
Churches and Their History
The church of Agia Triada stands in Ano Rouga, the northern and higher-lying part of Marathokabos. An inscription on the lintel gives 1798 as the year it was built. The Church of the Dormition of the Mother of God in the town was built in 1768; an inscription above the door attests to its renovation in 1819. Agia Paraskevi is among the earliest documented churches in Marathokabos and is mentioned in a document from 1607. Agios Antonios is near the central square and was founded in 1904.
These dates offer different points of reference: an inscription gives the construction date of Agia Triada, another inscription attests to a later renovation of the Church of the Dormition, and the mention of Agia Paraskevi in a document has been preserved. Agios Antonios adds to the picture with its location near the central square and its founding year of 1904.
School Buildings and Changing Uses
The history of schooling can also be read in specific buildings. The Kentoureios Urban School was built in 1920, is considered one of the town’s most distinctive public buildings, and now serves as a primary school. The old Gymnasium building was constructed around 1881 as a court of first instance. It was later used as a secondary school and, from 1930, as a gymnasium. During the occupation, occupying forces used it; after liberation, it returned to educational use. The two buildings thus represent different chapters: the Kentoureios Urban School’s present-day role as a primary school and the changing history of the old Gymnasium.
The Easter Custom of OvĂŻdes
At Easter, the custom of the “Ovïdes” is observed in Marathokabos.
Samos as the Wider Context
Beyond Marathokabos, the wider destination of Samos offers further cultural attractions. In Pythagoreion, the remains of an ancient fortified harbor with Greek and Roman monuments, as well as a tunnel aqueduct, have been preserved. The Tunnel of Eupalinos dates to the 6th century BC and runs 1,036 meters through a mountainside to supply the ancient city with water. It was created by Eupalinos of Megara, son of Naustrofus.
The archaeological museums also differ in their focus and collections. The Archaeological Museum of Samos is spread across two sites: a two-storey neoclassical building dating from 1912 displays finds from the Heraion of Samos; a new building from 1984 houses a collection of significant sculptures from the Archaic period. The Archaeological Museum of Pythagoreion is housed in a newly constructed building in the center of modern Pythagoreion, on the site of the ancient city of Samos. Its more than 3,000 objects cover the cultural development of the ancient city and its rural surroundings from the 4th millennium BC to the 7th century AD.
Landscape highlights on Samos include marked trails on Mount Kerkis that pass through gorges, chestnut groves and olive groves, with views stretching from the Ionian coast to the Cyclades. On Mount Ambelos, the Vourliotes–Manolates route is suitable for hiking, mountain biking and off-road excursions. Trail conditions on Mount Kerkis can change; before setting out, also check local conditions and safety advice for Vourliotes–Manolates. The Samos Wine Museum offers a culinary link to the island’s culture: it presents the history of Samian wine, displays traditional winemaking and barrel-making tools, among other items, as well as collectible bottles, and offers tastings of Samian wines.
When choosing a hotel in Marathokabos, it helps to decide what you want to focus on: should the town’s architecture, church history and school history shape your trip, or would you also like to explore other cultural and natural attractions across the wider destination of Samos? This keeps Marathokabos in focus as a destination in its own right, while Samos’s museums, trails and other highlights provide a broader regional context.
Discover more destinations: Samos, Mesokampos, Avlakia, Kokkári, Psili Ammos, Agios Konstantinos, Pandroso, Karlovasi
Back to the wider travel overview: Samos.
