Kythira lies south of the Peloponnese, between Cape Malea and Crete. Although historically one of the Ionian Islands (the Venetians called it Cerigo), today it belongs administratively to Attica. According to Hesiod, Aphrodite was born from the sea foam and landed first on Kythira before reaching Cyprus: hence the goddess's epithet Cytherea, and the "embarkation for Cythera" became a European image of love.
What to see
| Place | Why |
|---|---|
| Chora | White, on a ridge, with the Venetian castle and views over Kapsali |
| Kapsali | Double bay below Chora, with tavernas and a beach |
| Mylopotamos | Green village with mills and the Neraida waterfall |
| Agia Sofia cave | Cave with stalactites and a frescoed church at the entrance |
| Avlemonas | Fishing harbour with a small Venetian fort |
| Paleochora | The abandoned Byzantine capital, on a crag between gorges |
Beaches include Kaladi, reached by a stairway, Firi Ammos, Melidoni and Diakofti, where a ship ran aground in 2000.
Getting there
The airport has flights from Athens. Ferries leave from Neapoli in the Peloponnese (about an hour) and, less often, from Piraeus and Crete.
See also Antikythera and Elafonisos.