Page 100 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Greek Islands

6
KÝTHIRA Did You Know?

After World War II,
so many islanders
ΚΎΘΗΡΑ emigrated to Australia
~ 22 km (14 miles) NE of Hóra g Diakófti that they nicknamed
it “Big Kythira”.
EXPERIENCE The Argo-Saronic Islands feature a mix of Aegean and Venetian architecture. It is Only yachts and a few fishing
n www.kythira.gr
Beautiful Kýthira, one of the legendary birthplaces of
Aphrodite, has unspoiled beaches and towns that
boats anchor at the capital's
a popular holiday spot, particularly with Athenians and
harbour of Kapsáli, just east of
Italians. A large number of locals moved to Australia,
Hóra. The beach is mediocre,
and return visits are central to life here. The clumps of
but the town itself is lovely,
eucalyptus around the island, imported in the 1860s,
with a selection of good cafes;
are also a surprisingly Australian sight.
better beaches are located
along the coast at pebbly Fyrí
1
the birthplace of Aphrodite.
east via Kálamos, with sea
Hóra and Kapsáli
The steepness of the drop to
caves at its south end; and
Hóra has been Kýthira’s
the sea here is unrivalled in
sandy Halkós, 7 km (4 miles)
capital since the destruction Avgó islet is one candidate for Ámmos, 8 km (5 miles) north-
the Greek Islands.
south of Kálamos. Like many
of Paleóhora in 1537. Its Dating from the 17th to the of the Greek islands, the best
magnificent kástro was built 19th centuries, the capital's way to get around Kýthira is
between the 13th and 15th appealing lower town has by car, particularly as it is quite
centuries. A multi -domed sturdy flat-roofed mansions. mountainous. A bus runs to
cistern lies intact near the The Archaeological Museum, the main towns once a day
bottom of the castle; at the just outside Hóra, has a during summer.
summit, old Venetian cannons collection of Mycenaean,
surround the church of Panagía Roman and Minoan artifacts
Myrtidiótissa. The nearby from around the island.
2
Paleohóra
0 kilometres 5 N ⌂ 22 km (13 miles) NE
0 miles 5 of Hóra
Platiá Ámmos
Beach
Gýthio, Neápoli, The Byzantine capital of
Andikýthira, Crete Kýthira after 1248, Paleohóra
Karavás
was sited so as to be nearly
invisible from the sea, but the
Agía Pelagía
Ottoman pirate-admiral
Barbarossa detected and
sacked it in 1537. The ruins of
Paleohóra
Potamós the town perch on top of a
Kýthira Island
National Airport sheer 200-m (655-ft) bluff.
Moní Agíou
Theodórou The 13th-century Agía Varvára
Douriánika Diakófti is the most striking of several
Frilingiánika
churches in Paleohóra.
Agía Ágia Geórgios
Sofía Cave Mitáta Avlémonas
Mylopótamos
Káto Hóra
Fónissa Paleópoli 3
Limniónas
Beach Frátsia Kaladí Káto Hóra
Beach
Limnária Kalokairinés ⌂ 15 km (10 miles) NW
Beach of Hóra
Kombonáda
Beach
Livádi The Venetian kástro at Káto
Ágios Ioánnis Kálamos Hóra is situated on a bluff
K ý t hir a sto Gremó with steep drops to the north
Melidóni and west. It was built in 1565
Hóra Kapsáli Fyrí Ámmos
Beach
Halkós
Beach
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