<\/p>\n
\u201cIsland of sweet secrets, of the heart\u2019s festivals!\u201d (\u201c\u00cele des doux secrets et des f\u00eates du coeur!\u201d, Charles Baudelaire, Un voyage \u00e0 Cyth\u00e8re, Les Fleurs du Mal, – A Voyage to Cythera, The Flowers of Evil).<\/p>\n
Kythira Island is the birthplace of\u00a0Aphrodite, goddess of love,<\/b>\u00a0according to Hesiod (ancient Greek poet who lived during Homer\u2019s time). The island was a source of inspiration for French painter\u00a0Jean Antoine Watteau<\/b>\u00a0as well as for the 19th c. great French poet\u00a0Charles Baudelaire<\/b>, and for 20th c. Greek filmmaker\u00a0Theo Angelopoulos.<\/b><\/p>\n
It\u2019s a place endowed with great beauty: valleys that end on the seashore; mountainsides dressed in green, or rocky and barren; spring waters gurgling or cascading down the slopes; wonderful\u00a0beaches<\/b>; beautiful picturesque\u00a0little villages<\/b>; local\u00a0tasty dishes<\/b>; and an architecture that blends the apparent\u00a0Venetian influences<\/b>\u00a0with the style found in\u00a0Crete<\/b>\u00a0and Mani (south Peloponnese). The above is an outline of what you can expect to experience in this must-visit destination that is picture-perfect Kythira Island.<\/p>\n
Kythira or\u00a0Cerigo<\/b>\u00a0(the island\u2019s Venetian name) is the southernmost member of the\u00a0Ionian Islands<\/b>\u00a0and it is located at the entrance of the\u00a0Laconian Gulf<\/b>. The\u00a0island style of architecture<\/b>\u00a0is to be found in all villages which were mostly built in a traditional style, such as the\u00a0Byzantine churches<\/b>\u00a0and the\u00a0Venetian Castle<\/b>\u00a0dominating the hill above Chora (main town).<\/p>\n
Most of the\u00a0island festivals<\/b>\u00a0and\u00a0celebrations<\/b>\u00a0take place during the summer. Join them and you will get a personal view of Kythira\u2019s local traditions, that remain very much alive today.<\/p>\n
Make a note of visiting the\u00a0Wine Festival<\/b>\u00a0at Mitata village, and the religious festivals in honour of\u00a0Panagia<\/b>\u00a0[Our Lady]\u00a0Myrtidiotissa<\/b>\u00a0(September 24th) and\u00a0Agia Elesa<\/b>\u00a0[St. Elesa]\u00a0Festival<\/b> (August 1st) etc.<\/p>\nExplore the island<\/h2>\n
Start from\u00a0Platia Ammos,<\/b>\u00a0the northernmost seaside village with quaint little houses and fish tavernas. A ravine with many freshwater springs and brooks starts from Gerakari area and goes all the way to this seashore. It\u2019s a quiet place where you can have a relaxing holiday. The dirt road that starts here will take you to\u00a0cape Spathi;<\/b>\u00a0this is where you will see the 1857\u00a0Moudari Lighthouse<\/b>, one of the biggest in the Greek Seas, rising to a height of 25 metres. To reach it, you must follow the path. When the lighthouse keeper is there, you may be allowed to see the interior. Weather permitting, this incredibly beautiful location will offer you a fine view of the entire Laconian Gulf, from\u00a0Cape Maleas<\/b>\u00a0all the way to\u00a0Cape Tainaro<\/b>.<\/p>\n
From Platia Ammos head towards\u00a0Karavas<\/b>\u00a0(3km SW). You will enjoy your hiking trip through the green gorge with the tall plane trees, and the babbling brooks. Make a point of visiting the\u00a0Amir Ali<\/b>\u00a0springs neighbouring area.<\/p>\n
On the northeastern part of Kythira,\u00a0Agia Pelagia<\/b>\u00a0village boasts a beautiful beach, many tavernas and tourist accommodation establishments, as well as the island\u2019s oldest harbour. Enjoy the beauty of nature as you hike along\u00a0Kakia Lagada gorge<\/b>, which ends here.<\/p>\n
A beautiful hiking route, through fragrant pine trees, will lead you to\u00a0Potamos<\/b>, Kythira\u2019s largest village. Its traditional houses, the Venetian Guardhouse and the\u00a0neo-classical Kindergarten building<\/b>\u00a0are very interesting from an architectural point of view. You will find traditional coffee houses, bakeries, and tavernas serving delicious local dishes. Your accommodation options, too, are plenty. If you visit the village on a Sunday, you will see the open-air market, which takes place on the slab-paved main square. Taste and buy local traditional products. On\u00a0August 15th<\/b>\u00a0[a major Greek religious feast day] a large\u00a0festival<\/b>\u00a0takes place on the village square with lots of good food, dancing, and local wine.<\/p>\n
Head south and you will reach\u00a0Aroniadika<\/b>, a traditional village with little white-coloured houses with arches and verandas adorned with bougainvillea. The architecture brings to mind the style you usually find in the Cyclades. This is where you will find top quality honey from local producers.<\/p>\n
From Potamos village, follow the signposts for 8 km towards historic\u00a0Palaiochora<\/b>\u00a0town<\/b>, now in ruins. You will find the view fascinating. Once, this place used to be the Byzantine capital of Kythira, built on a hill and protected by crags, at a short distance from the shore and unseen from the sea. The town was levelled in 1537 by Barbarossa, a much-feared pirate that roamed the Mediterranean in those times. The remains of houses and churches stand in proof of the town\u2019s great past.<\/p>\n
Next, follow the main road towards the south. You will reach\u00a0Chora<\/b>, the island\u2019s picture-perfect capital and administrative centre. Stroll along the alleys past the stately homes of old aristocratic families. The streets are very narrow, linked with arches, the houses are built right next to each other, following the unadorned island architectural style. The Venetian influence is everywhere. Make sure you visit the Archaeological Museum, in the outskirts.<\/p>\n
Drive towards nearby busy\u00a0Kapsali<\/b>\u00a0village and enjoy your coffee or your ouzo drink by the harbour any time of the day. The view of Chora and its\u00a0medieval castle\u00a0<\/b>dominating the sea is nothing short of breathtaking. Stay in Kapsali for the evening, as this is the island\u2019s nightlife hotspot.<\/p>\nMake a note of visiting Kythira\u2019s castles:<\/h2>\n
– Chora\u2019s castle<\/b>\u00a0dominates the town. Its construction has begun during the late Byzantine Period, and it was completed when the Venetians took over the island. It has served as the seat of the Venetian Governor on Kythira. In the interior, you will see byzantine churches and other buildings still standing, as well as the residence of the Venetian Governor and, later on, of the British Commissioner. Today, it houses the Kythira Historical Archives with plenty of records dating back to the Venetian occupation.<\/p>\n
– The\u00a0Castle on Kato Chora Mylopotamou.<\/b>\u00a0Inside it, you will see the main neighbourhood with many houses which remain in good condition, as well as remarkable byzantine and late-byzantine churches with amazing mural paintings and icons. At the Fort\u2019s entrance, you will see the coat of arms depicting the Lion of St. Mark \u2013 the emblem of the Republic of Venice.<\/p>\n
– The\u00a0Avlemona Castle<\/b>\u00a0was built at the natural harbour\u2019s mouth by the Venetians in order to protect it from raids.
\nThose of you interested in visiting caves will enjoy touring the cave of Agia Sofia Mylopotamou: it is 100 m. long, covering an area of 2000 square metres, and there are chambers with beautiful stalactites and stalagmites. At the cave entrance you will enter the small chapel of Agia Sofia: the religious paintings on the icon screen date back to the 18th c. The 13th c. murals are signed by Theodoros, a Byzantine painter. You can also visit Chousti Cave in Diakofti.<\/p>\nHere\u2019s some more interesting sights for you to visit:<\/h2>\n
– Milapidea School<\/b>
\nThis building used to be a typical educational establishment constructed by the British when the island was under their rule. It is located on high ground, between Fatsadika and Livadi villages.<\/p>\n
– The windmills and watermills on the island
\n<\/b>The 19th c. windmills on the island were stone-built and they were essential to the local agricultural activities. You will see them standing \u2013 either in singles or in twos – on the outskirts of villages, in locations easily accessible from cultivated plots of land. During the 20th c., wheat grinding in windmills was gradually abandoned and by 1955 all windmills on the island were closed down. You can also see the 23 watermills still standing, but only three of them remain in a fairly good condition. Most of them are located in the valley near Mylopotamos village.<\/p>\n
– The ancient harbour of Skandeia<\/b>
\nVisit the archaeological site and the ancient tombs.<\/p>\n
– Katouni Bridge
\n<\/b>It was built in 1826, under British rule. It is 110 m. long, 6m. wide and the maximum height is 15 m. It is supported by 13 arches and 12 cylindrical openings arranged in perfect symmetry.<\/p>\nSavour delicious traditional products:<\/h2>\n
– <\/b>Try the local thyme\u00a0honey<\/b>, you will be impressed by its flavour, aroma and colour.
\n– Sip a shot of\u00a0fatourada<\/b>, the local flavourful liqueur, made from pure tsipouro spirit, cinnamon & cloves, or flavoured with\u00a0fruit<\/b>\u00a0such as tangerine, orange and apricot, following a long period of fruit skin and kernel processing (sun-matured fatourada)
\n– Taste\u00a0Rozedes<\/b>: this traditional sweet is made with thyme honey, almonds, semolina, sugar, cinnamon & cloves. It can be preserved for many months in excellent condition.
\n–\u00a0Pastitseta<\/b>\u00a0is a sweet with a Venetian origin: it is made with vanilla, fresh butter and quince jam.
\n– Xerotigana<\/b>\u00a0is made with thin layers of dough arranged in a shape that resembles a water lily. The thin crunchy filo sheet is fried and dressed with thyme honey, sesame seeds, and cinnamon.
\n– Pasta mylou<\/b>\u00a0is the ideal sweet for you if you love almonds; to make it, almonds are blanched and ground in a hand mill, to form a paste that is mixed with vanilla extract and a syrup to bind the ingredients.
\n– Koumara<\/b>\u00a0is a bite-sized sweet that is made from strawberry tree fruit.
\n– Boutino<\/b>\u00a0is a type of sponge cake that is made with fresh milk, top quality butter, free range eggs, semolina, sugar, currants, slightly browned almonds and ground cinnamon. Try it topped with ice cream.
\n– Melounia<\/b>\u00a0is a small sized honeyed sweet, made from quality local products: thyme honey, almonds, flour and extra virgin olive oil.<\/p>\n
The\u00a0wine<\/b>\u00a0lovers among you will find some very interesting labels in Kythira. You can try white, ros\u00e9 or red wines produced from local grape varieties, such as arikanas (yields a ros\u00e9 wine), roditis, petrolanos, kydonitsa (they yield white wines) and toukoumaki (yields a red wine). You will of course find top quality wines produced from blending local varieties with imported ones.<\/p>\n
Before you leave Kythira, make sure you buy a bouquet of dried sempreviva<\/b>\u00a0flowers<\/b>: this is a beautiful small endemic flower that grows only in the south parts of the island on steep rocks and on\u00a0Chytra<\/b>\u00a0Islet<\/b>, opposite Diakofti. It was so named by the Venetians who saw that these flowers remain intact (sempre viva: always alive) and do not wither for a long period of time. It\u2019ll be a great memento of your trip here.<\/p>\nHow to get to Kythira:<\/h2>\n
– By plane<\/b>. There are flights from\/to the Athens International Airport Eleftherios Venizelos. Distance of Kythira Airport from Chora: 20 km.
\n–\u00a0By boat<\/b>\u00a0from\/to\u00a0Piraeus<\/b>\u00a0Port, and from\/to\u00a0Gytheio<\/b>\u00a0and\u00a0Neapoli<\/b>\u00a0(seaside towns on the opposite Laconian Coast). There is also a ferry service running from\/to Kasteli Kissamou (Chania, Crete) as well as from\/to Antikythira Island.
\n–\u00a0By car\u00a0<\/b>until Gytheio or Neapoli, and then by ferry.<\/p>\n
<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
\u201cIsland of sweet secrets, of the heart\u2019s festivals!\u201d (\u201c\u00cele des doux secrets et des f\u00eates du coeur!\u201d, Charles Baudelaire, Un voyage \u00e0 Cyth\u00e8re, Les Fleurs du Mal, – A Voyage to Cythera, The Flowers of Evil). Kythira Island is the birthplace of\u00a0Aphrodite, goddess of love,\u00a0according to Hesiod (ancient Greek poet who lived during Homer\u2019s time). […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":526,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"templates\/full-width-page.php","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-174","page","type-page","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry"],"yoast_head":"\n