Ancient Agora

The Ancient Agora of Kos is an extensive open archaeological site in the centre of Kos Town, covering several blocks with the ruins of the main public square, stoa (covered walkway), temples, and administrative buildings of ancient Kos. The site was excavated and partly reconstructed during the Italian administration of the Dodecanese between the wars.

Access is generally open and entry is free (though this may change). The ruins are best understood with a guidebook or audio guide; the site is not extensively labelled in English. The most impressive remains are the long stoa colonnade, partly reconstructed, which gives a sense of the scale of the ancient commercial district. The site is surrounded by the modern town — a striking juxtaposition.

things to do sight
A story
The Ancient Agora of Kos covers a large area in the centre of the modern town — larger, actually, than was originally understood, because the 1933 earthquake that destroyed much of the town revealed ancient ruins that had been built over for centuries. The Italian colonial administration, which controlled the Dodecanese at the time, undertook extensive excavations that uncovered the Agora, the stoa, and several temples. Their work was thorough but also involved some creative reconstruction that would not be accepted by modern archaeological standards.