Kythera is one of the most secluded Greek islands, hence not very touristy. It is crossed with rivers and gorges, covered with plane and pine trees. But Kythera also offers an ancient destroyed town of Paleohora, several shipwrecks and numerous cavernous churches.
Solve the mystery of how the pirate Barbarossa found and destroyed Paleohora, a huge 12th century fortified town on the top of the hill surrounded with sheer cliffs from 3 sides and invisible from the sea. Locals believe this place to be sordid and haunted by ghosts, abandoned it and never even examined. Go canyoning in the Gorge of Kakia Lagada. It is a difficult path through wild forest, rocks along a river forming a lake in the mouth of the gorge. Kythera hosts a unique Sempreviva flower that only grows here. Witness an ancient shipwreck of Mantor. The ship sank with Parthenon marbles. Divers are still researching. Walk through the alleys of Hora town (that’s how many Greek islands’ capitals are called) aligning sophisticated Venetian mansions, ancient buildings and whitewashed houses. View the bays of Filoti and Kapsali from the medieval castle of Hora, else known as the Eye of Crete, because it controlled the sea passage to Crete. Hike from Mylopotamos village with beautiful central square hosting abundant springs under the plane trees through 22 watermills to take a dive into a natural pond of the 22 meter Fonissa Waterfall. Explore the cave of Agia Sofia. The entrance room is a church with byzantine wall paintings and iconostasis, and following rooms will show you “shark’s teeth” formation. Ask for the special license to visit “Aphrodite chambers”.
Meet seals in the caves and emerald waters of the isle of Hytra. “Hytra” means pot, deriving from it’s autumn look when a cloud sits above the isle. Buy traditional products in an olive mill Stou Fava to Liotrivi in Mitata village. Peek into the Black cave and Mitata caves which served as shepherds houses. Try famous oil rusks – bread baked in the woods – in “ta Kythera” or “Karavas” bakeries. Relax on wild and quiet beaches. Clear waters host sea urchins, which locals nicely cook into stuffed sea urchins. Pristine Kaladi beach is the most beautiful. Discover why our Golf & Sail cruise guests adore to unwind on Kythera on their way from Pilos to Crete’s golf fields.
According to poet Hesiod titan Cronus cut off the head of his father Uranus, who abused his mother, Gaia. Cronus threw his head into the sea near Kythera. From the sea foam, Aphrodite, the celestial Goddess of love, emerged and then travelled to Cyprus.
