Ro (Rho) - Ρω

Ro is a tiny, flat islet positioned just a few miles west of Kastellorizo. Named after the Greek letter "rho" due to its distinctive shape, this uninhabited block of rock and low brush stands as a powerful symbol of national pride and resilience. The island feautures a couple of quiet bays with exceptionally clear water, and a solitary lighthouse. Day-trippers who take the short speedboat or traditional wooden boat ride from Kastellorizo will discover a quiet, sun-baked landscape that feels entirely separated from the rest of the world, offering an raw encounter with the vastness of the Mediterranean.

What makes Ro universally famous across Greece is its deeply touching human history, tied entirely to the legacy of Despina Achladiotou, immortalized as the "Lady of Ro." Moving to the deserted islet with her husband and blind mother in the 1920s, she eventually became the island's sole permanent resident. For over forty years, through the chaos of World War II, enemy occupations, and intense isolation, she defiantly raised and lowered the Greek flag every single day at sunrise and sunset to declare the islet's identity to passing ships. Following her passing in 1982 at the age of 92, she was buried on the island with full military honors. Visitors today can walk up to her final resting place and see her commemorative monument, where Greek soldiers continue her proud, daily flag-raising tradition.