Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
access. In the surrounding countryside are some extremely strange rock formations, the
biggest being the 8m-high Iraklis (Hercules) rock, just east of the village.
Monastery of Katharón
he
monastery of Katharón
, 3km south of Anoyí, boasts stunning views down over
Vathý and the south of the island. It houses an icon of the
Panayía
discovered by
peasants clearing scrubland in the area. The monastery celebrates its festival on
September 8 with services, processions and music.
Afáles Bay area
Local British expat Katrina (
T
697 59 28 240) offers expert guided rambles in the area
Afáles
, the largest bay on the entire island, with an unspoilt and little-visited pebble-
and-sand beach, can be accessed by a track down from the outskirts of
Platrithriés
. This
quiet yet rather spread-out village lies on the less direct westerly route from Stavrós to
Fríkes, which first loops below the hill village of Exoyí. Just of the start of the road up
to Exoyí a signpost points about 1km along a rough track to the supposed
School of
Homer
, where excavations still in progress have revealed extensive foundations, a well
and ancient steps. The site is unfenced and well worth a detour for its views of Afáles
Bay as much as the remains.
11
Fríkes
Wedged in a valley between two steep hills,
FRÍKES
was only settled in the sixteenth
century and emigration in the nineteenth century almost emptied the place - as few as
two hundred people live here today - but the protected harbour is a natural port. here
are no beaches in the village, but plenty of good, if small, pebble coves a short walk
away towards Kióni; it also offers superior dining options to its neighbour. When the
ferries and their cargoes have departed, Fríkes falls quiet and this is its real charm.
Kióni
KIÓNI
sits at a dead end 5km southeast of Fríkes. On the same geological base as the
northern tip of Kefaloniá, it avoided the very worst of the 1953 earthquake and so
retains some fine examples of pre-twentieth-century architecture. It's an extremely
pretty village, wrapped around a tiny harbour, and tourism here is dominated by
British blue-chip travel companies and visiting yachts. The bay has a small
beach
, 1km
along its south side, a sand-and-pebble strand below a summer-only snack-bar.
ACCOMMODATION AND EATING
NORTHERN ITHÁKI
hotel in northern Itháki has a pool in its relaxing grounds
and smart,
spac
ious rooms. Buffet breakfast included. May
to mid-Oct.
€80
Ì
Rementzo
T
26740 31719.
Friendly taverna in the
corner of the quay, offering a selection of fresh fish, baked
meat and vegetable dishes, salads and pizza, plus good
wine and ouzo.
April-Oct daily 10am-1am.
Ulysses
T
26740 31733.
Specializing in succulent home-
style cuisine, this popular restaurant in the middle of the
seafront also provides plenty of snacks, sweets and
beverages.
May-Oct daily 11am-midnight.
STAVRÓS
Margarita
T
26740 31229.
This large, friendly
zaharoplastío
is a good place for a coffee, a refreshing drink
or to sample the local sweet
rovaní
(syrupy rice cakes).
Daily 8am-11pm.
Petra
T
26740 31596.
Popular village taverna that serves
grilled and oven dishes, plus some pizza
and pasta. It also
offers basic but clean and good-value
room
s above the
restaurant. March-Nov noon-midnight.
€35
FRÍKES
Aristotelis Apartments
T
26740 31079,
W
aristotelis
-ithaca.gr.
Smart apartments only 100m or so back from the
harbour, with attractive wooden eaves in the uppe
r roo
ms and
colourful rustic decoration throughout. May-Oct.
€50
Nostos
T
26740 31644,
W
hotelnostos-ithaki.gr.
Around 100m from the seafront, the only conventional
KIÓNI
Calypso
T
26740 31066.
Pleasant taverna in the middle
of the tiny bay, which has imaginative dishes like pork with
artichokes and some very drinkable aromatic wine.
May-
Oct daily noon-midnight.
