Once famous throughout the Mediterranean for shipbuilding and sponge-diving, Symi enjoyed great prosperity up to the advent of steamships.

The port of Gialos is magical, with tier upon tier of neo-classical mansions set in an amphitheatre bay. Along with Gialos Town, St. Panormitis (local patron saint of sailors, the Archangel Michael) on the south coast of the island is definitely worth a visit.