The Basics
| Pronunciation | Kee-thi-ra |
|---|---|
| Alternate Spelling | Kythera |
| Transportation | Ferry, Hydrofoil, small plane |
| Main Attractions | Splendid isolation, beaches |
| Food | Many good choices |
| Accommodations | Many good choices |
Kythira Characteristics
Mountainous Kythira
lies just off the southeastern tip of the Peloponnese in the Myrtoon Sea. It's on the way to nowhere, which is part of its attraction.
It isn't really in the Ionian Sea but seems to be categorized there for convenience. It lies between the Ionian and the Aegean Seas.
Kythira is 103 nautical miles from Piraeus and has a land mass of 278 sq. km and 52 km of coastline.
Island Features
Kythira is on a limited
ship route, so doesn't receive many visitors. Most of its population has
emigrated to Australia leaving about 3150 residents. Over 100,000 from Kytheria now live in Australia, which the remaining Kythirian's call Big Kythira. Emigrants returning home to Kythira each summer are the bulk of the travel rush.
Tourism has not taken over the island and it remains undeveloped. There are nice coves and sandy beaches. Its capital is Hora. It has two ports, Aghia Pelagia and Kapsali.
Kythira was the source of the reddish purple dye used for royal garments by the ancients. It is made from murex shells.
Towns
Hora (or Chora) is postcard pretty with its blue and white colors set 900ft above the port of Kapsali. A ruined Venetian fortress is at the top. The location of the fortress was supposedly chosen by pigeons. Hora also has ten old Venetian mansions and a small museum.
Kapsali is a mini-resort, with restaurants and two pebble and sand beaches.
The little egg islet, Avgo, offshore is said to be the exact spot where Aphrodite was born.
North of Hora at Livadi there is an arched bridge built by the British in 1822. It is the largest bridge in Greece, and has thirteen arches. There's an ancient ceramics workshop in Livadi, where the traditional Kythiran pottery style is kept alive. Call ahead to visit (073 603).
East of Livadi there's a nice museum in Kato Livadi. Four km to the coast from here is a red sand beach, Firi Ammos, where there is good snorkelling.
West of Livadi is the Monastery of the Panagia Mirtidion with a carved bell tower in a fabulous coastal setting among the cypresses. Many pilgrims come to visit the gold-plated icon of the Virgin and Child, deemed especially holy because the faces have blackened with age.
North of Drimonas, Milopotamos is a village criss-crossed by canals. The village has abundant water and lush growth. Nightengales flourish here. Below Milopatmos is a ghost town, Kato Chora, where walls of a Venetian fortress remain. The road from here descends steeply to a white sand beach at secluded Limionas.
Signs in Milopotamos direct you to the Ag. Sofia Cave, which is only open in summer. The cave was used as a church and has frescoes and mosaics among the stalactites, stalagmites and small lakes.
There are several villages on the east coast. Former port and Minoan settlement Skandeia has numerous ruins and archaeolocial status and well as a long sandy beach.
The fishing village of Avlemonas is a good place to eat. There you can see the "ruins" of Helen's throne, Mycenaean blood sacrifice sites and a Venetian fortress. The nearby beach at Kaladi is very fine and often used as an example of a beautiful beach on tourist posters advertising Greece travel.
To the north is Diakofti, which is near the airport. This is also an important island port. There a white sand beach.
Mitata, in the center of Kythira is a good picnic spot with verdant countryside, lemon trees and a spring. There's thyme honey available here.
On the north end of the island is Palio Chora, set high in the rocks and hidden by a great gorge. The Byzantine town built there is deserted now, but the ruins and the gorge are worth a visit. The gorge beside it has inspired most of the island's legends and ghost stories.
The largest village in the north is Potamos. Visit on Sunday to enjoy the market. There's a beach just west at Ag. Eleftherios.
A Turkish tower stands at Gerakari. Continue to the village of Karavas and the fine beach at Platia Ammos. The norhern port of Ag. Pelagia is nearby, where you will fine another nice pebble beach.
Drinking and Dining
Most towns and villages have several choices for decent places to eat.
Accommodations
Email Us for information about accommodations on Kythira.
History
The goddess of love, Aphrodite, rose out of the foam on her scallop shell at Kythira. An ancient sanctuary to Aphrodite on Kythira was considered the most sacred of all such temples in Greece. Unfortunately, almost none of it remains today.
Kythira's first settlers, the Phoenicians, called Aphrodite Astarte. The ancient Phoenician name for the island was Porphyrousa.
Because this was the isle of the goddess of love, Kythira became a major destination and trading center. This lead to raids, battles, conquests and other turbluence. In recorded history, Kythira has been invaded 80 times.
Hints from Harry
Even though the mountain roads are a bit exciting, a car is the best way to get around the island. See more photos of Kythira I | Kythira Photos II
Maps
The Complete Details
| Transportation Facts |
|
|---|---|
| Island Resources |
|