Kythera or Tsirigo, as the locals call it, is a place that invites you to discover its green oases with running water, walk through the traditional villages, eat at a seaside tavern and swim in the crystal waters where, according to legend, Aphrodite emerged from. You will be fascinated by the medieval castles, the churches which keep the customs, religious traditions and stories of the island alive.
Kythera is located between the Peloponnese and Crete, where the Aegean Sea meets the Cretan and Ionian seas. It is the seventh of the Ionian Islands and the only one located east of mainland Greece. It combines the rich natural environment of the Ionian Sea with the unique Aegean sunlight. Its key position shaped its history: Since the 5th millennium BC it has been inhabited by Minoans, Mycenaeans, Dorians, Spartans and Phoenicians until it was finally ravaged by Roman pirates. In the 13th century, the island passed to the jurisdiction of the Venetians, later in the hands of the French and then the British, until it could join the Greek state along with the other Ionian Islands. Numerous monuments testify to this rich and turbulent history: Medieval castles of Venetian heritage to remind us of the ever-present threat of the pirates and deserted schools to represent the years of the hard English domination. The number of Byzantine churches turn the whole island into a monument of this era.
Today Kythera is a favorite destination for travelers, Greeks and foreigners. The tranquility of the place, the hospitality of the people and the mild tourist development that respects the traditional aspect of the island are elements that fascinate all visitors. Chora and the coastal settlements have tourist facilities and you will need a car if you want to explore all the beauties of the island. There are daily flights from the airport of Athens as well as ferries from the ports of Piraeus, Gythio, Neapoli of Laconia and Kastelli in Crete. In August Kythera is very crowded, so if you prefer a more relaxing holiday you should visit it the remaining summer months.
