Kythnos, beautiful and picturesque, is the first island that the visitor meets on the way to western Cyclades. It is found between Kea and Serifos and is located 52 nm from Piraeus. It is a mountainous island, that is characterized by the classic Cycladic landscape and its extent reaches the 99 sq. km. It is a picturesque Cycladic island, with small villages built in accordance to traditional architecture. Cobbled streets, white houses, squares, churches and windmills compose a perfect setting of vacations for those who select calmness and peacefulness near nature.
The island is inhabited since the ancient years and demonstrates appreciable archaeological sites and monuments.
As any island automatically means sea, in Kythnos visitors can enjoy a swim in its splendid beaches. Closed bays, windless ports and golden sandy beaches promise unforgettable hours of joy.
Kythnos had never been over flooded by uncontrollable tourist development and still maintains intact its beauties. It offers quiet vacations to visitors, without however missing any occasions for entertainment. As long as it concerns accommodation, hotels and groups of rented rooms that function in the island, satisfy any needs and requirements that each traveller may has.
Sights
Hora
Hora of the island is Kythnos or Mesaria, a traditional Cycladic settlement built on the slopes of a hill. In Hora you will walk in narrow cobbled streets under picturesque “steadia” (galleries), next to white stone built houses, and will visit the beautiful churches: the Agia Triada, a royal basilica with dome that is the oldest church of the island, Sotiras, Agios Ioannis with its wood carved iconostasis from the 16th century, the historical church of Agios Savvas with a sign above the door from1613, that in the years of the Frankish occupation functioned as an Orthodox and as a Catholic church. In your tour in Hora you must not omit to visit the Archaeological Collection of Kythnos, where you will see interesting discoveries from excavations in the island. At a distance of 800 metres from Hora, on an elevation, we find the monastery of Panagia Nikous, a marvellous royal basilica with dome.
Merichas
The harbour of the island and port of Dryopida is a place with a tourist infrastructure. It is a settlement full of life any time of the day. The Byzantine Museum, where you will see icons, old books and ecclesiastical utensils is found in Merichas. In the Folklore Museum you will observe objects of past periods.
Loutra
It is a coastal settlement, port of Hora, with an organised marina and tourist infrastructure. It took its name from the medicinal sources that are found in the region.
Dryopida
Dryopida or Horio or Syllakas, constitutes a separate picture of the island. The settlement includes two-storied houses with tiled roofs, something that is not extensively used in Cyclades. The Piatsa and the district of Galatas, but also the beautiful churches of the settlement, are some of the sights of Drypida.
Lefkes
On the south-east of Dryopida lays the small settlement of Lefkes with its lovely beach, with sand and pebbles and enough shade from the tamarisk trees. An old mine of iron and manganese is found near the settlement.
Vryokastro
The ancient city of Kythnos, which was inhabited from the 10th B.C. up to the 7th A.D. century, with a peak in the classical and roman years, was found north of Merichas, near the beach of Episkopi, in the region Vryokastro. The space is full of ruins of walls, foundations of temples and altars.
Kolona
A narrow band of sand links landscape with the islet of Agios Loukas,thus shaping a natural shelter for the ships and an impressive beach that astonishes any visitor.It is found on the north-west of Merichas, in the place Kolona. The homonym church is found in the islet of Agios Loukas.
Kastro
This is the medieval capital of Kythnos that is found in the northern utmost of the island. Parts of walls of a Venetian castle, as well as ruins of houses and two churches are still preserved. The city was destroyed on the 16th century from the Turks.
Monastery of Agia Kanala
The monastery of Panagia Kanala-protector of the island-with the exceptional icon of Panagia;work of the Cretan painter Antonis Skordilis from the 17th century, is found south of Dryopida, on the eastern coasts, built on a rock near the settlement of Kanala.
Wind and Solar Park
The Wind and Solar Park is found near the space of the helicopter deck, outside Hora. Wind generators and solar collectors are used for powering of the island. It functions from 1982 and includes 5 wind generators with a production capacity of 500.000 KW hours per year.
Beaches
In Kythnos you will find innumerable creeks, bays and beaches with crystal waters: the Episkopi, the Apokrousi with sand and shade, the big beach Flampouria where the church of Panagia Flampouriani dominates, the Agios Sostis-a beautiful beach at the northern point of the island and Naoussa with its view to the church on the rock. Kouri and Zogaki which are linked with each other with staircases, the Kato Livadi withe the chapel of Panagia Kalolivadiotissa and the magical Fykiada.
At the southern point of the island we find Agios Dimitrios, a long beatiful sandy beach which is stretched out infront by the homonym settlement. Further south of Dryopida, on the eastern coasts, we find the settlement Kanala, above the long sandy beach Megali Ammos.
Source: http://www.cyclades-tour.gr
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