Karpathos Town is the capital city and main port of the island. It is also known as Pigadia, due to the numerous wells that existed there. It is a newer town with 1,700 inhabitants, identified as the ancient city of Poseidon.
From the top of the town, located in the southern part of the island, the visitor can enjoy a magnificent view of the port, as well as the bay of Vrontis with the long beach. On the left side of the harbor’s entrance dominates a rock where the ruins of the ancient acropolis can be seen. The narrow alleys and beautiful houses make Pigadia a very attractive place.
Pigadia consists the center  of tourist life. Following either the coastal or the central road there are many cafes, bars and restaurants. During the First and the Second World War two impressive buildings were built in Pigadia. The first is that of the Province of  Karpathos and Kasos, near the center of the town, and the second one is the Customs Office at the port. Both, remind to all people the days of the Italian Occupation in the Dodecanese. Moreover, the visitor can attend many cultural events in the newly-built open theatre of the town.