The Hippocrates tree is a large Plane tree found in
Kos Town close to the
Neratzia castle. Legend has it that Hippocrates taught medicine to his students under the shade of this great old tree.
Over the years there have been many cuttings taken from the tree and used to create new trees, these were mainly given as gifts to medical colleges and libraries all over the world.
Today the tree looks a little sad as it’s split in half and is held up by scaffolding but it’s set in the centre of a delightful area and surrounded by shops and tavernas.
Unfortunately there was an earthquake in July 2017 that destroyed the little domed building as you can see in the photo gallery below, it also damaged the surrounding buildings so the area is not as pleasant as it was previously. Hopefully some restoration work will get carried out soon and get it back to it’s former glory. That said, it’s still worth having a look round the area if you’re in Kos town.
