| About
Kythira
The island of Kythira is part of the Ionian
island group and is isolated at the foot of
the Peloponnese, between the Ionian and the
Aegean Seas. Kythira is a pretty large (278
km2 - about 3.000 inhabitants), moutainous island
just south of the Peloponnesus. Kythira is not
very touristic because it is not on the ship
route to other islands. There are some nice
beaches and the island is ideal for hiking.
From the mainland you can get
there by aeroplane from Athens, Thessaloniki
and many other European cities or by boat from
Patras, Igoumenitsa, Ipiros and Italian harbours
like Ancona, Bari, Brindisi, Otranto, Trieste
and Venice. Also by boat you can reach the neighbouring
islands of Kefalonia,
Ithaki and Paxoi.
The village Paleochora is one
of the most beautiful villages of the island
and is one of the places one really have to
see. It is situated on the north-eastern part
of Kythira Greece. The village is composed of
the ruins of the medieval capital of the island.
The village is dating from the Byzantine times
and was called Agkefalonia Dimitrkefalonia.
Paleochora is characterised by its charming
architecture which reminds Monemvasia or Mystra.
The village was built between
the hills in order that it couldn't be seen
from the see and to be protected from the many
pirate’s raids of the region. Despite
that protection and the fortifications of the
village, Paleochora was found by the famous
pirate Barbarossa in 1537. He burnt the village
and sold its inhabitants as slaves.
The village never had been reconstructed since
for the reason that the area is considered as
a place of bad fortune.
The village has also many churches with beautiful
frescoes.
You get to Kythira by plane from
Athens or by boat from Neapolis and Gythios
or the neighbouring islands of Antikythira
and Crete. |
