KYTHNOS ISLAND

Kythnos Greece , the island of Apollo, is a beautiful mountainous island located in the western part of the group of Greek islands called the Cyclades. This Greek Island is quite a verdant, full of olive trees which are creating a beautiful scenery along with the glimmering white of the flat roofed houses, the deep blue and turquoise sea and the bright red and fuchsia of the bougainvilleas. It is located near Syros and Serifos.
This section of Kythnos Island provides much information: pictures, map, villages, history, museums, architecture, excursions, weather and more such as a large range of hotels.

KYTHNOS VILLAGES AND TOWNS

Almost all villages of Kythnos are small and quiet. The most important villages are situated by the seaside, except for Chora and Driopida which are mountainous. They have a few facilities and they come alive only in summer, when tourists flow the island. This section provides you with information on the most famous settlements of Kythnos.

Chora Village Kythnos: A classic Greek island's town, complete with white houses with colorful flowers and pristine churches, Chora town on Kythnos is extremely picturesque.

The narrow streets and quaint little squares have an old world charm to them, which when coupled with the quite modern and well equipped restaurants, form an unbeatable combination. Some of the more famous churches which warrant a visit are the church of Agia Triada, church of Agios Panteleimonas, church of Metamorfosis and also the church of Ioannis.

An interesting fact about these churches was that they were for both Catholic as well as Orthodox pilgrims, with the Catholics praying on the left side of the church, while the latter use the right side. The Agia Triada (Holy Trinity) church is the oldest of them all, while the church of Agios Prodromos is visited by locals and tourists for a glimpse of its coveted 17th century screen. One particularly interesting attraction near Hora is Loutra, located just 4.5 kilometers from the town. It is famous for its hot spas which are believed to have healing waters, attracting hundreds of visitors at all times. Some famous beaches nearby Chora are Episkopi, Apokrousi and Martinakia, all of which are easily accessible. Located just 8 kilometers from the port of Kythnos, Hora is an ideal first stop on the island.

Agia Irini Village Kythnos: The village of Agia Irini is situated 6 km from Chora village, close to the popular resort of Loutra. It has a nice marina where fishing boats usually moor and the overall area is tranquil and picturesque. This village also has some history value, since a battle took place there on 1st March 1862. Two officers, Nikolaos Leotsakos and Periklis Moraitinis, and Agamemnon Skarvelis, a university student, lost their lives during an outbreak against King Otto. Nowadays, three marble plaques stand behind the church of Agia Irini to commemorate the battle and honour the fighters. Every year, on May 5th, there is a religious festival dedicated to the memory of Agia Irini, the saint-protector of the village.

Merichas Village Kythnos: Merihas is a small seaside village, which has kept its traditional appearance throughout the years. It is placed on the west coast of the island, at 8 km from the main town and this is the main port of Kythnos island, where ferries from Piraeus and the nearby islands moor. Merihas village has a few permanent residents, some of which speak English, but even if they don't, it is easy to communicate with them. The village tends to get quiet crowded in the peak season, when tourists come to the island. Many summer boat trips start from this point and Merihas is connected to Chora by buses. Merihas has some hotels and room rentals to stay. In fact, it concentrates most of the available options around its port. Merihas also has a lively nightlife that attracts the young people of the island and lots of tourists. Moreover, you will have the chance to enjoy a fresh fish meal in the numerous taverns of the village, while sitting at a table almost on the water's edge. As for some sights to see in Merihas, there is the close by site of Vryokatsro, the ancient capital of the island, inhabited until the 7th century A.D, with ruins of walls, temples, altars and Roman buildings. Moreover, pay a visit to the church of Panagia Flambouriani. The nearest beaches to Merihas village are Episkopi, Apokrousi and Martinakia.

Loutra Village Kythnos: Loutra is one of the most important villages of Kythnos. It is placed to the north-east of the island, at approximately 5 km from Chora village and 11 km from the port of Merihas. It's name means ‘baths', in clear allusion to the thermal springs of the area, whose healing properties are famous from the ancient times. Although Loutra is a small village built around a natural bay, it is a popular resort that attracts lots of visitors who come to seek for cure in the thermal springs, or to enjoy the various facilities of this village. In fact, Loutra is the only spot on the island, apart from the port of Merihas, to count on some night entertainment options. It has a good variety of restaurants and clubs, which are known for their friendly vibe. The older visitors to Kythnos usually opt for Loutra, while the youngsters tend to prefer Merihas village for their holidays. Moreover, Loutra is close to an important archaeological site, the oldest known habitation in the Cyclades islands. This is a Mesolithic settlement in the area of Maroulas, dating from 10,000 BC to 8,000 BC. The area lies in ruins today, but it would worth a visit.

Kanala Village Kythnos: Housed in a pine forest, the only one in the Cyclades chain, Kanala village is a small coastal village. Located next to the famous monastery dedicated to Panagia or Virgin Mary, Kanala village is ideal for a refreshing and rejuvenating vacation. The icon of Virgin Mary housed in the monastery is believed to have healing powers and attracts many believers. The beautiful sandy beach completes the image of the Village, which is perfect for swimming and very safe for children. With taverns and vacation rooms to let, the village is the ideal escape from the bustle of the city. Being in the only pine forest in the Cyclades, the village is quite popular and is well equipped to meet the visitors' needs. The village boasts of classic Cycladic architecture and is immersed in Greek culture. It is fro sure a place to visit, if not staying there.

BEACHES IN KYTHNOS:

The rocky coastline of Kythnos is peppered with lovely sandy beaches, some only accessible by boat. You won't be joined by hordes of fellow tourists on any of the beaches here - in fact yours may be the only footprints in the sand.

Though most of the island's holiday accommodation is in and around the small ferry and fishing port of Merihas this is not the best place to spend a day on the beach. It's a good spot for enjoying a fresh fish lunch or dinner seated at a table right at the water's edge but the beach itself is unappealing. The best beaches are to be found further north along the coast from Merihas and if you're a keen hiker you'll have no trouble reaching them on foot. Otherwise hire a caique (water taxi) or a moped and take the road via Hora.

The nearest beach to the port is Martinakia Beach which has a taverna of the same name but if you don't mind the half hour walk, Episkopi is a better bet - a 500 metre stretch of sand with a lone taverna where you can reward your efforts with a cooling drink and a bite of lunch.

North along the coast from Episkopi there's the lovely bay of Apokroussi Beach where large trees fringing the sandy beach provide welcome shade. A little further north west you'll find one of the island's most beautiful beaches, Kolona Beach, which is a sand spit connecting Kythnos with the islet of Agios Loukas. You'll need to allow at least a couple of hours for the walk here from the port - if you're more into sunbathing than hiking you'll be better off taking a boat.

To the south of Merihas there are two good sandy beaches both accessible by road - Flambouri Beach and the double bay of Aghio Dimitriou in the south west corner of the island.

On the east coast at Kanala there's the popular sandy beach of Megali Ammos which has a taverna and rooms to let. Buses run fairly frequently to and from the port in high season. Small coves are dotted all along the eastern stretch of coastline from Kanala to Agios Stefanos - a pretty village to the north east of Dryopida. A couple of tavernas open for visitors here in high season.

One of the island's biggest attractions is the mineral-rich water of Loutra Beach, in the north, where the radioactive thermal springs are widely believed to have curative properties for a variety of ailments. The sulphurous springs can reach temperatures of 52C, producing steam from the cool waters of the Aegean Sea. For a few Euros you can have a health check and a soak in the state-run Xenia baths. The tradition of "taking the water" here goes back centuries and people suffering from all kinds of conditions - from rheumatism and arthritis to heart and gynaecological problems - still flock to Loutra in the hope of a cure.

MAP OF KYTHNOS: