Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Maroula
, Mesolithic graves dating to about the eighth millennium BC suggest Kýthnos
may have been one of the earliest inhabited Cycladic islands; other sites indicate copper
mining and smelting. About a ninety-minute walk from Loutrá, on Cape Kéfalos, lie
the picturesque ruins of the medieval capital
Kástro tís Oriás
,
once home to around
5000 people, but now abandoned.
ACCOMMODATION
LOUTRÁ AND AROUND
Ì
Porto Klaras
T
22810 31276,
W
porto-klaras.gr.
A
hotel worth making the trip to Loutrá just to stay in; its
rooms are huge, with decorated carved recesses and large,
sculpted beds, while its balconies - some of which come
with sofas - have great port views. Free wi-fi, safebox, and,
for those
who
dislike a/c, there are ceiling fans, as well.
April-Oct.
€70
Meltemi
T
22810 31271,
W
meltemihotel-kythnos.gr.
Fully renovated hotel on the road out of Loutrá that offers
dependable good value, with beautifully tiled walls, a
landscaped garden and different colour schemes in each
room. It organizes daily excursions all over Kýthnos. Credit
cards accepted; breakfast included; free wi-fi
-i a
vailable; free
pick-ups from Mérihas offered. April-Oct.
€65
6
EATING AND DRINKING
Araxovóli
T
22810 31082.
A fish taverna conveniently
situated in the middle of the quay that also offers tasty
cooked meals (dish of the day €10). If you want to eat
calamari, octopus, crayfish or lobster on the island, this is
the place to make a beeline for.
Daily 8am-1am.
Sofrano
T
22810 31436.
A waterfront restaurant for the
yachting jet-set, this is the most romantic establishment
on the island complete with candle-lit tables, flower-filled
vases, pink tablecloths and bundles of atmosphere.
Thankfully the food (mains €12) matches the decor.
March-Nov daily 9am-midnight.
Dhryopídha and the south
From Hóra you can drive south to
DHRYOPÍDHA
; more visually appealing than Hóra by
virtue of spanning a well-watered valley, its red-tiled roofs are reminiscent of Spain or
Tuscany. It was once the island's capital, built around one of Greece's largest
caves
, the
Katafýki, that served as a hiding place from corsairs. South of Dhryopídha,
KANÁLA
is
a relaxed alternative to Loutrá, with its
Panayía Kanála
church set in a tiny but pleasant
pine woodland and home to a miracle-working icon by the seventeenth-century Cretan
master, Skordhilis.
ACCOMMODATION AND EATING
DHRYOPÍDHA AND THE SOUTH
Bouritis
Kanála
T
22810 32350.
Large self-catering
apartments and studios on the beach, all with balcony sea
views, a/c, TV and kitchen, sharing a delightfully tended
garden with a B
BQ. Th
ere is also a well-stocked supermarket
in the premises.
€60
Mílas Rooms
Modern villa complex at the end of Áyios Dhimítrios
beach decorated in schist stone and marble and
comprising large suites with separate, fully equipped
kitchens. The owners also operate a restaurant nearby,
whose
sfou
ngat
a
(€6) have won a Greek gourmet prize.
May-Sept.
€40
Áyios Dhimítrios
T
22810 32815.
Sérifos
SÉRIFOS
has long languished outside the mainstream of history and modern tourism. Little
has happened here since Perseus returned with Medusa's head in time to save his mother,
Danaë, from being ravished by the local king Polydectes - turning him, his court and the
green island into stone. Many would-be visitors are deterred by the apparently barren, hilly
interior, which, with the stark, rocky coastline, makes Sérifos appear uninhabited until the
ferry turns into postcard-picturesque Livádhi Bay. This element of surprise continues as
you slowly discover a number of lovely
beaches
around the island.
Sérifos is also great for serious
walkers
, who can head for several small villages in the
under-explored interior, plus some isolated coves. Many people still keep livestock and
produce their own cognac-red wines, which are an acquired taste.
