Antikythera

Thirteen kilometers to the South of Kythera, the tiny, wind-blown 22-square-kilometre island of Antikythera is linked to its bigger sister by a sporadic ferry service.  A rocky and poor island which received electricity in 1984, but it has one remarkable claim to fame: the Antikythira Mechanism, a complex mechanism for navigation, which now is in National Archeological Museum in Athens. Local attractions include good birdlife (a bird observatory has been built in the old school at Laziana) and rich flora, but it's not the place if you want company, with only 45 residents divided among a scattering of settlements- mainly in Potamos, the harbor, and Sohoria, the village. Ferries-permitting, the festival of Agios Myron is held here,on August 17- an annual reunion jamboree for the Antikythiran diaspora.

Recent excavation work above Xeropotamos has revealed the site of ancient Aigila, a 75-acre fortress city of the Hellenistic period. At the harbor below are the remains of one of ancient Greece's best-preserved warship slipways, a neosoikos, carved out of the rock.

Transportation

By ferry: Antikythera has, theoretically, a twice-weekly summer connection with Kythira (2hrs) on the Pireas-Kythera-Kastelli(Crete) run, but landings are often impossible due to adverse weather.

Useful Phone Numbers

Community Antikythera: 27360 31930

Regional Medical Center: 27360 33213

Police Station: 27360 33767

Post: 27360 38143

Port: 27360 33280

Kythera

Kythera is known as the Island of Aphrodite, the Goddess of love. Is one of the Heptanese, the seven islands of Ionian. It is located in the Southeastern side of the Peloponnese peninsula and generally in South Greece. The previous name of the island was Cerigo. Kythera has been influenced by many civilizations and cultures because it was located in a strategic position. 

Map of Kythera

Ithaca

Ithaca is one of the Heptanese,the Ionian islands. It is located South of Leukada and Northeast of Kefalonia. Capital of Ithaca is Vathi. The extension of the island is 92 km² and population, 3.231 inhabitants. Ithaca has two ports, Vathi which is one of the largest natural harbours and Piso Aetos, linked both to Patra via Sami(Kefalonia port). Piso Aetos is also connected to Fiskardo (Kefalonia), Vasiliki(Leukada) and Astakos. Ithaca was Odysseas's legendary homeland, the muthical hero, whose delay to return home was the main element of Odysseas's plot.

Map of Ithaca

Ithaca lies east of the Northwest coast of Kefalonia. It has approximately 100 km of coastline. Vathi is the capital and the largest settlement of the island. The second largest village is Stavros in the Northern part. Ithaca has many beaches but the most famous are Piso Aetos, Filiatro, Kioni, Dexa, Skinos and Gidaki. Bays include Frikes and Kioni Bays to the Northeast, Sarakiniko Bay and Ormos Gulf to the Southeast and Afales to the Northwest. The capes are Melissa to the North, Mavronos and Agios Ilias to the East, Agios Ioannis and Sarakiniko and Skinos. The tallest mountain is Nirito part (806 m), followed by Merovigli (669 m).

Antipaxos

Antipaxos is about 3 nautical miles from Gaios(Paxos).Is a small island which belongs to Paxos complex. Has extension 5 km² and population 65 inhabitants approximately. It is famous for Voutoumi, Vrika and Mesovrika beaches which are listed among the ten best sandy beaches in the Mediterranean. It's also famous for the production of  high quality wine that is held in esteem and is not easily found. You can visit Antipaxos with one of the small boats that operate from Gaios. On a tour of the island you will impressed by the unique natural beauty of this verdant island, Agios Amilianos with its magnificent oaks, the spring of Kalogiris with cool and healthy spring water and the fine marble lighthouse of Antipaxos built in 1833.

Paxos

Map of Paxos

Paxi or Paxoi  is the name of the smallest group of the Ionian Islands which are called the Heptanese. It refers to a complex of islands, the largest of which are Paxos and Antipaxos. The capital of Paxoi is Gaios and is naturally protected by two islets, the Virgin Mary and Saint Nicholas. In Greek mythology, Poseidon created the island by striking Corfu with his trident, so that he and wife Amphitrite could have some peace and quiet.

Paxi are located 7 miles south of Corfu, just 8 miles from the mainland coast and 12 miles from Parga.

Greek Islands

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