Kos, who gave the world Hippocrates, father of medicine, looks like a huge floating garden. It lies south of Kalimnos and was first inhabited in the Neolithic era. In 700 B.C. it joined with Lindos, Kameiros, lalyssos, Knidos and Halikarnassos to found the Dorian Hexapolis in the 4th century B.C. Its Asklepieion became famous as the leading "hospital" of antiquity. The capital, Kos, is situated in a verdant district on the north-east of the island. at the back of an open bay. Around the port you can still see the ruins of the ancient city and the castle, built between 1450 and 1478 after the Knights of St.John took over the island.Excavations in the ancient city brought to light building foundations of the Classical, Hellenistic and Roman eras. The rest of the town is modern and well - laid - out, with contemporary buildings, hotels and avenues lined with palm trees. In a lush area 4 kilometres west of town, one can see the Asklepieion (Asklipiio) or Sanctuary of Asklepios. Its buildings, owing to the slope of the site, stand on four different terraces and a marble staircase. The view from the highest one is stunning.