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Area:99 sq. km., Population: 1,502, Capital: Messaria or Hora, How to get there: By boat from Lawion, Kea and Piraeus. |
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HISTORY:On Kythnos, in the .region óf Loutra, traces of a human settlement older than any other in the Cyclades, dating to 7500 BC, have been brought to light. During the Mycenaean era, the island was inhabited by the Dryopids. It saw the Macedonians, Ptolemies and Romans come and go, and centuries later belonged to the Duchy of Naxos. Governed by the Gozzadini from 1337, it fell to the Turks in 1617. SIGHTSEEING: Merichas, the island's harbour, lïes on its west side. Near there, at Voriokastro, can be seen the ruins of an aridient city that flourished until the Roman era. To the north of the capital, in the interior of the island, are the ruins óf a Hellenistic tower. There are numerous post-Byzantine churches with finely carved icon screens and icons painted in the Cretan· Venetian style. To the south-east stands the Monastery of the Panayia Kanala. Apart from the Hora and Merichas, Kythnos has two other villages - Dyropida with its marvelous but undeveloped Katafyki cave and Loutra, known for its mineral waters. North of Loutra, at Palaiokastro, are the ruins of the medieval capital and Venetian castle The island has lovely beaches, accessible by car or caique. the. north·west, the islet of Agios Loukas is linked to its larger neighbour by a narrow strip of sand. |
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