Page 217 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Greek Islands

Dotting the hillside, the at Episkopí and Apókrousi, Hansen, remains. A Mesolithic
whitewashed village of overlooked by Vryókastro, the settlement to the north, is the
Hóra on Sérifos Hellenistic ruins of ancient oldest in the Cyclades, dating
Kýthnos. You can walk to from 7500–6000 BC.
Dryopída, a good hour south
Kythnos’s picturesque capital of Hóra, down stretches of
Hóra, also known as Mesaria, the ancient cobbled way, 5
is a charming mix of red roofs, which has dramatic views.
narrow streets and Cycladic At Kanála, 5 km (3 miles) Sérifos
cube-shaped houses. Also to the south, holiday homes Σέριφος
worth visiting is the church of have sprung up by the church
Ágios Sávvas, which was of Panagía Kanála, the island’s g @ Livádi n www.serifos-
founded in 1613 by the patron saint. Set in attractive island.com
Venetian Gozzadini family, shaded picnic grounds, the In mythology, the infant
and is marked with their coat church houses Kýthnos’s Perseus and his mother
of arms. The oldest church is most venerated icon of the Danae were washed up on
Agía Triáda (Holy Trinity); this Panagía. Legend states that it the shores of rocky Sérifos.
is considered the “protector” was miraculously found by Once rich in iron and copper
of the village. fishermen in the sea nearby. mines, the island is renowned
Kýthnos’s road network is Loutrá is a straggling resort for its beauty and has bare
limited, but buses connect the on the northeast coast with hills with small fertile valleys,
port of Mérihas with Kanála in windswept beaches. Its spa and long sandy beaches.
the south and Loutrá in the waters are saturated with iron, Ferries dock at Livádi on the
north. The remaining areas and the springs of Kákavos southeast coast, which is on a
of the island are mostly within and Ágii Anárgyri have been sandy, tree-fringed bay buzzing
a walkable distance of these used as a cure for ailments with hotels and tavernas.
points. Mérihas, on the west such as rheumatism since Follow the stone steps up from
coast, has a small marina and ancient times. Since the late Livádi or use the sporadic bus
tree-fringed beach, lined with 1990s, Loutrá has been service to reach the dazzling
small hotels and tavernas. Just “freshened up” with new white village of Hóra high
to the north, the sandy beach accommodation, though the above on the steep hill side,
of Martinákia is popular with 19th-century hydro-therapy which is dotted with chapels
families. Further along the centre, designed by noted and windmills, and topped by
coast are the lovely beaches Danish architect Christian the ruins of a 15th-century
Venetian kástro. Many of its
medieval houses, some built
Kýthnos’ picturesque capital Horá, using stones from the castle
also known as Mesaria, is a charming and all with breathtaking
mix of red roofs, narrow streets and views, have been renova ted
as holiday homes by Greek
Cycladic cube-shaped houses. architects and artists.
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