Agios Stefanos Basilica

The Basilicas of Agios Stefanos stand on the shore of Kamari Bay near Kefalos, at the southwestern tip of Kos. The ruins were uncovered in 1932 by the Italian archaeologist Luciano Laurenzi, who identified the remains of two early Christian basilicas built side by side, making them the largest and best-preserved complex of their kind on the island.

The larger of the two churches dates to the 5th century AD, with the smaller basilica added later; both were badly damaged by the powerful earthquake of 554 AD that struck the wider Aegean region and hastened their abandonment. Excavations have uncovered sections of patterned mosaic flooring, along with column bases and capitals that once supported the naves, giving visitors a clear sense of the buildings' original scale and layout.

Just offshore, the small rocky islet of Kastri, topped by the whitewashed chapel of Agios Nikolaos, was once linked to the basilica complex by a bridge and is thought to have carried a watchtower guarding the bay in later centuries. Framed by the sea on one side and Kefalos village on the other, the site draws a steady stream of history enthusiasts and photographers, and many visitors combine a day of sightseeing with a private gulet charter from Kos.