Since 1832 the island's of Sámos' capital has been the little town of Sámos (pop. 8,000), which was founded in that year. It lies in a semicircle round the sheltered inner harbor of Vathy, climbing picturesquely up the hill with its olive groves to the upper town of Apáno Vathy. It has an attractive square and picturesque little streets and
alleys.
Old houses with narrow windows and wooden balconies lie side by side with new ones with red-tiled roofs and bright colors. There are marvelous frescoes in the church of Ái Yiannákis.