A local landmark preserved to this day is the vaulted building in the neighbourhood of Ηagios Ioannis in Yalos. It is one of the two cisterns that served the busy harbour of Symi. It is stonebuilt and dates back to Ottoman times (19th c.) Its name comes from the word “kouloundros”, which in the local idiom means round and refers to its form. Water cisterns were of paramount importance for arid places such as Symi.
The Kouloundri cistern is a listed monument due to its historical value, as one of the few authentic communal constructions of the 19th century in the harbour of Symi.
