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Greek Islands
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Aegean Sea
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North Cyclades >
Kythnos
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Kythnos
Island in Greece
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 Kythnos
is an island situated between Kea
and Sifnos and
directly opposite of Syros.
It is 19 km long and covers an area of about 80 square km. Mainly flat,
the highest peak is Prophet Elia, at 326 meters altitude. Barren of trees,
the only green shade, in the heat of the summer, is provided by fig trees
scattered everywhere.
The main communities are Kythnos (also called Hσra),
Kanalia, Messaria and Loutrα.
Today the island is a haven for Greeks who head for its many Spas, all
located in the North Eastern part of the island. The capital of the
island called Hora or Messaria, stands on a hillside plateau, 8 km from
Merihas. It is a typical Cycladic village, noted for its beautiful
churches with their fine woodcarving, sanctuary screens and icons. |
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Kythnos' history |
First
inhabitants of Kythnos were the Kares, who after a while gave up the
island to the Cretans. The island then passed to people from Evia, the Dryopes,
who under the command of Kythnos gave his name to the island. They were
more interested in going to the fertile valleys of Cyprus and thus left
and the island passed to the Ionians. In the North part of the island,
there are the ruins of castles from that era.
In Romans times piracy grew and was the scourge of the islanders.
Excavations
have found a site dating back to the Early Neolithic or even the
Mesolithic period, making it the oldest habitation yet found in the
Cyclades. Much later the Ionians arrived on the island and founded the
ancient city of Kythnos. The island was represented at the battle of
Salamis by two ships and for their contribution the Kythnians were
mentioned on the base of the golden tripod at Delphi.
In
more recent times (about 200 BC), the island was attacked many times by
the Romans who never
succeeded in taking it. The capital then had more than 12000 people all
congregated in the northwest part. When, in the time of Diocletian, the
Roman Empire was divided, Kythnos became part of the province of Achaea
and later under Byzantium, was included in the "theme" of the
Aegean.
The "Francs" arrived in 1207, under Marco Sanudi and Venetian
power was to last until 1617, when the Turks drove out Angelo Gazadino,
last feudal overload and brought the island into the Ottoman Empire.
Later
the capital was moved to what is known as Kefalokastro today. It was
rebuilt around the time of Christ and destroyed by marauding people only
to be rebuilt and be destroyed again by Pirates in the 13th century.
Kythnos
paid its taxes direct to the Sultan and enjoyed religious freedom under
the Turks, but it was still beset by pirates and frequently suffered from
catastrophic epidemics. An attack of the plague in 1823 carried off most
of the inhabitants.
In the period shortly before the War of Independence, Kythnos flourished
intellectually. This was mainly the result of the foundation of an
institution of higher education at the monastery of Panagia Nikous, near
Hora. The cave of Katafiki, which lies near the village, is one of the
largest, unexplored caves in Greece, used as a shelter by the locals
during the Second World War. It is here that the locals meet to celebrate
the resurrection.
Dryopithia,
was the ancient capital of the island located south of Hora. Today's
village is traditional and has some windmills (used in the past for
grinding flour). Nearby there is also the location of Katafiki, a famous
cave which has been destroyed by the iron ore mines, shafts of which can
also be seen. |
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Kythnos Island today |
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Kythnos is one of the most beautiful islands of the west Cyclades, with
pure Cycladic scenery and a tradition in architecture, easily seen in the
many picturesque alleys and churches of the island.
The
rocky coasts with the wonderful sandy beaches that suddenly appear form
the islands' beaches with the crystal-clear water.
The
water there is supposed to have medicinal properties. One of the springs
offers water, which is always at about 52 degrees C (about 120 F) and
another one which provides water at a temperature of 38.6 degrees (about
90 F) and which is also slightly radioactive.
The island is a great haven
for passing Greek Easter because the locals put up quite a sight. Easter,
the most religious of all Greek Christian activities, is a place where
local folklore dances, sometimes weddings in the old style, taste of the
wild weeds (called localy as Alifσnia)
and trying the local Miznthra cheese all take place.
Kythnos, the capital of the island is littered with beautiful white houses and
wonderful churches not to be missed. The Church of Agia Triadas, Metamorfosis,
Agiou Panteleimona and Agiou Ioannou are a must-see. All of these churches were
both for Orthodox and for Catholic pilgrims, the first praying on the right side
and the latter on the left
In the southeast part of the island the monastery of Our Lady Kanala, the patron
saint of the island, stands on a very attractive promontory facing towards
Serifos, with a beautiful expanse of sandy beach.
Other good beaches for swimming can be found at Merihas, Episkopi,
Flambouria, Loutra and Agios Stefanos.
The remains of two old settlements can be visited on the island; Vryokastro, in
the west of the island, is an ancient town first settled at the time of the
Persian Wars and inhabited into the Roman period. Very little of it has
survived. Kastro is the island's medieval township, which lasted until the 16th
century, when the capital was moved to what is today called Hora (Messaria).
Kastro has ruins of houses and of two churches.
Although
Kythnos is not far from Piraeus and Kea, one can find their unexpected
peacefulness. Here, too, the terrain is mainly mountainous, but the
harshness of the bare earth is relieved here and there by vines or
fig-trees like brushstrokes on it, while pretty little bays form
indentations in its coastline. There are steep cliffs on the northern side
of the island.
The small gulfs, which keep the sea peaceful, the white houses, the
streets and the old windmills, are some of the attractions of the island.
Kythnos is close to Athens, so it is suitable even for weekends.
The locals who are nice, hospitable and always in a good mood, always
celebrate the island's public festivals in a very traditional manner,
singing and dancing to violins...
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If you like me to assist you with your
holiday choice in the Cyclades Islands,
please
send me an e-mail with
your questions and enquiries. I will
be glad to reply and assist you, wherever I
possibly can. |
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If you like me to assist you with
your holiday choice in Kythnos, please
send me an e-mail with your questions and enquiries. I will be glad to reply and
assist you, wherever I possibly can. |
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