Marathokabos: Churches, Lanes and History

Marathokabos invites you to take a closer look at its historic townscape and the stories behind its buildings. In the old centre of Marathókampos, the houses stand close together, often sharing dividing walls. Between them run narrow paved lanes and passageways, whose distinctive arches shape the townscape. Traditional Samian architecture is evident here not only in individual buildings, but also in the arrangement of the houses and paths.

Lanes and churches in the historic town centre

A notable landmark is the Church of Agia Triada in Ano Rouga, the northern, higher-lying part of Marathókampos. The inscription on the door lintel gives 1798 as the year it was built. The Church of the Dormition of the Mother of God in Marathókampos was built in 1768; an inscription above the door records its renovation in 1819. These two dates give the townscape a specific historical context, without suggesting that the churches belong to a single shared period of construction.

Written records of other churches also span several centuries: Agia Paraskevi is one of the earliest documented churches in Marathókampos and is mentioned in a document from 1607. Agios Antonios is near the central square and was founded in 1904. Together with the narrow lanes and arches, details like these tell the story of a place whose history is visible in different locations.

School buildings as evidence of different eras

The Kentoureios Urban School was built in 1920 and is one of the town’s most distinctive public buildings. Today it serves as a primary school. Another educational institution has a longer sequence of uses: the old gymnasium building was constructed around 1881 as a court of first instance, later served as a secondary school, and was used as a gymnasium from 1930. During the occupation, it served the occupying forces; after liberation, it returned to educational use. Visitors interested in local history will find here not just a year of construction, but several clearly distinct chapters in the building’s use.

An Easter custom and more of Samos’s culture

At Easter, Marathókampos observes the custom of the “Ovïdes”. It adds a living local tradition, tied to the festive calendar, to the town’s historic buildings.

On Samos, Pythagoreion offers a different perspective on the island’s history. The remains of an ancient fortified harbour, with Greek and Roman monuments, as well as a tunnel aqueduct, have been preserved there. The Tunnel of Eupalinos dates to the 6th century BC and runs for 1,036 metres through the mountainside. It supplied the ancient city with water; its builder is believed to have been Eupalinos of Megara, son of Naustrofus. The Archaeological Museum of Pythagoreion is also located in the centre of modern Pythagoreion, on the site of the ancient city of Samos. Its collection includes more than 3,000 objects relating to the cultural development of the ancient city and its rural surroundings, from the 4th millennium BC to the 7th century AD.

The Samos Wine Museum offers another perspective on the island: it presents the history of Samian wine and offers tastings. Exhibits include traditional tools used in winemaking and barrel-making, collectible bottles and other objects. Samos brings together a range of subjects: the churches and school buildings of Marathókampos, archaeological evidence in Pythagoreion, and the island’s wine history.

Choose accommodation to suit your interests

If you are especially interested in the historic townscape, its churches and the changing history of its school buildings, Marathokabos could be the focus of your search for a holiday apartment. If you would also like to explore archaeological collections or Samian wine culture, consider these as separate aspects of the broader destination of Samos. This can help you choose your location based on which parts of the island are most important for your trip.

Discover more destinations

Discover more destinations: Koumeika, Valeontades, Ireo, Kokkári, Kamara, Pandroso, Pefkos, Potokaki.

To the main travel overview: Samos.