Kythera, lying opposite the southeastern tip of the Peloponnese peninsula, is a unique Greek island full of majestic beaches and green mountainous terrain, so it has something for everyone.
Kythera, the place where the Aegean meets the Ionian Sea, lies next to Antikythera and its amazing Antikythera Mechanism, discovered off its shores.
It was inhabited in ancient times and has the oldest sanctuary dedicated to the goddess Aphrodite.
Through the 19th century, it was a trade crossroads of several civilizations and cultures, including Greek, Venetian, and Ottoman.
History of the Greek Island of Kythera
The Venetian rule marked the culture and idiosyncrasy of Kytherians. It contributed to their excellence in the arts, politics and commerce.
Due to the historical relationship between the Ionian Islands and Italy, many Kytherians studied in Italian cities.
Several Greek politicians and prominent academics hail from Kythera. General Panos Koroneos served as Minister of War in the mid-1800s; Panagiotis Tsitsilias was a Liberal Party MP; Spiridon Stais was MP for Harilaos Trikoupis’ party and Minister of Education.
Also, Grigorios Kassimatis was a distinguished academic; MP Grigorios L. Kassimatis fought in the Resistance; Giorgos Kassimatis was one of the most distinguished professors at the Law School of Athens and a writer.
In the arts and literature, Lafcadio Hearn (Koizumi Yakumo) – also known for his roots in Lefkada – is Japan’s national poet and lived in Kythera in the second half of the 19th century.
Painter Georgios Drizos, the engraver and lithographer Vasilios Charos, the painter and engraver Manolis Charos, and photographers Panagiotis Fatseas and Manolis Sofios, were all artists whose body of work makes a priceless cultural heritage for the island.
Kytherians in Australia
If you visit Kythera, you will be surprised by the percentage of Australian tourists among visitors. The reason is that thousands of Kytherians went to Australia in the first wave of migration to the land down under in the early 20th century.
It is estimated that there are over 60,000 Greek-Australians of Kytherian descent living in Australia and the Kytherian community of Sydney is one of the oldest communities in the country.
At the dawn of the 20th century, hundreds of Kytherians could not sustain and raise a family on the island due to its small size and mountainous terrain.
Many were forced to migrate to Australia, since America had made migration policies more strict by that time. Kytherians settled in Sydney and Brisbane instead.
So it is natural for the second and third-generation Greek-Australians of Kytherian descent to want to make a connection with their ancestral roots while having a great holiday.
Let yourself be enchanted by Kythera
Kythera is ideal for relaxation and is great for families and nature lovers. The more adventurous types can enjoy hiking, cycling or splashing in the waterfalls.
Off the beaten track despite its ferry connections and an airport, the island still somehow has remained a hidden Greek treasure.
Don’t be surprised if you go to a small beach and find that you can have it all to yourself for a few hours.
In Kythera, you can stay in Palaiochora, Agia Pelagia, Diakofti, Livadi, Avlemonas and other villages.
Kythera’s castles
Chora’s castle dominates the town. Its construction was begun during the late Byzantine Period, and it was completed when the Venetians took over the island. It served as the seat of the Venetian Governor on Kythera.
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.
Inside the Castle on Kato Chora Mylopotamou, you will see the main neighborhood 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’s entrance, you will see the coat of arms depicting the Lion of St. Mark – the emblem of the Republic of Venice.
The Avlemona Castle was built at the natural harbor’s mouth by the Venetians in order to protect it from raids.
Those 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 meters, 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.
Ten great beaches on the Greek island
Kythera has many great beaches, typical of the Aegean Sea, with clear turquoise waters and golden sands.
Kaladi is on the east side of the island, near Paleopoli. The beach has average size pebbles, while the waters are deep, and ideal for diving.
Vroulea is on the southeast part of Kythera, near Kalamos. It is rather isolated and has pebbly sand.
Kapsali, is also south, but this is a large beach with pebbly sand and shallow waters. It is a busy family beach with deckchairs, umbrellas, restaurants, snack bars, and cafes.
Chalkos is in Kalamos and it is an average size beach with big rocks and pebbles. It has blue-green waters with beautiful reflections. The beach is lined with deckchairs, umbrellas and snack-bars like Kapsali.
Fyri Ammos is a large beach also in Kalamos; it is a rocky beach with coarse red sand, deep waters and a cave. You can find deckchairs, beach umbrellas and a snack-bar there.
Fournoi is a rocky beach on the northeastern part of the island offering the same amenities as Fyri Ammos.
Gerakari is a small isolated beach in the northwest. It has pebbly sand and offers lots of privacy so couples can enjoy a romantic sunset.
Lorentzo in Agia Pelagia is in the north part of Kythera. It has coarse crimson sand and is famous for its caves.
Limni Kakias Lagadas in Agia Pelagia is a small isolated beach with small pebbles between a lake and the sea.
Fyri Ammos of Agia Pelagia is in the northeast part of the island. It is very busy with deep waters, coarse red sand and pebbles.
There is more to Kythera than just lying on the sand or swimming in the crystal clear waters.
The ravine of Mylopotamos with its running waters starts from the center of the village and ends at Kalami beach.
Surrounded by plane trees and poplars, the water creates waterfalls and small beautiful ponds, ideal to jump in. The ravine is bordered by 22 watermills.
The mountainous part of the island is great for cycling, but requires a lot of effort and the legs of an athlete. Hiking is also an activity on offer for the more athletic types.
There is a wild and very beautiful gorge known as Kakia Lagada. It starts in Palaiochora, a Byzantine citadel formally called Agios Dimitrios, and stretches all the way to the northern coast of Kythera, east of Agia Pelagia, to Limni.
Kythera: The Greek Island Where History Meets Beauty 2026 IUSTITIA.BG – Investigations 2009-2026 2026-04-16 23:44:50 Latest news, world news, country news, most important news, latest news, most important, latest of the day, Justice, Petar Nizamov, Feathers, Petar Nizamov- Feathers, Justice bg, iustitia.bg, iustitia, iusticia, usticia, investigation, Burgas, Bulgaria, news, breaking news, news of the day, news of today, news from today, Bulgaria news, The news from Bulgaria, blitz news, top news, most important, most commented, latest news, Boyko Borisov, news, weather, coronavirus, news, news, weather, facebook, youtube, facebook, instagram, today’s news, last minute news, news today, today’s news, news, bg news, leading news, hot news, bg news, news site, all news, news bg, last hour news, latest, latest news bg, news from today, news today, last hour news, latest news, today, news bg, news, news vesti, 24 hours news, vesti bg novini, world news, bird bg, bivol bg, bivol, trud bg novini, latest news today, novinite bg news, hello bulgaria, political party coat of arms, delyan peevski, scandalous, bulgarian national television, free europe, television, scandal, exclusive, live, live tv right now, tv, tv online, tv program, bg, live now, tv news, online, live tv online, court, burgas court, burgas district court, burgas court, burgas district court, burgas district court, burgas district court, burgas court of appeal, burgas prosecutor, burgas prosecutor’s office, burgas district prosecutor’s office, burgas district prosecutor’s office, chief prosecutor, ivan geshev, prosecutor geshev, tsatsarov, mvr burgas, odmvr burgas, odp burgas, police burgas, district police burgas, prosecutor tsatsarov, sgs cases, court varna, chairman of the Supreme Court of Justice, court decisions in civil cases, decisions in cases, Plovdiv court, court decision, case decisions, Varna court, criminal, cases, district, district court decisions, work in court, Supreme Court of Justice chairman, Supreme Court judges, Sofia court, deputy judges, Plovdiv, Plovdiv court, judges Plovdiv, Supreme Court, Inspectorate of the Supreme Court of Justice, Supreme Judicial Council, Supreme Court, Supreme Judicial Council, lawyer, lawyer criminal cases, lawyer civil cases, lawyer matrimonial cases, lawyer administrative, criminal law, criminal process, civil law, civil process, administrative law, constitutional law,
