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About Kythnos Island

The island of Kythnos, or, as the locals call it, Thermia, lies between Kea (Tzia) and Serifos, 54 nautical miles from Pireaus.
Administratively, Kythnos belongs to the Kea province of the Prefecture of Cyclades. It has an area of about 100 sq. km. (38 sq. miles) and a circumference of 36 miles. The terrain is rocky with Ai-Lias (336 m.) the tallest pick.
Although Kythnos is not far from Piraeus and Kea, one can find there 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.

Beaches

Beautiful beaches can be found at Meriha, Loutra (you can reach Loutra by bus from Meriha or Hora), Agios Stefanos (40' min. walk from Hora),Skylou, Kolona and Panagia Kanala. Other good beaches for swimming can be found at Episkopi and Flambouria bay (accessible only by boat).

Night Life

You can find taverns, discos, pubs, clubs and bars at Mericha and taverns, bars and pubs at Loutra and Chora.

Transportation

From Piraeus to Kythnos (Mericha) via ferryboat. Almost every day in summer and four times a week in winter (distance : 54 nautical miles, duration : 2,5h). For more information contact Coast guard of Piraeus tel. (01) 4226000-4.
From Lavrio to Kythnos (Mericha) via ferryboat. For more information contact the Coast guard of Lavrio (0292) 25.249

• Merihas : Good shelter; Fuel & water in town; Taverns
• Loutra : Poor shelter; No fuel; Water in town; Taverns
• Agios Stefanos : Good shelter; Anchored off; No fuel; Water in town; Taverns

Useful telephone numbers

Automatic dialing code: 0281.
Police : 31201
Harbor Office : 31290, 32290
Post Office (ELTA) : 31239
Telephone Company (OTE) : 31212, 31499
Public Telephone offices : 
Kythnos - 31277,
Dryopida - 32230.

Kythnos : Places To Visit

Ferries put in at Merihas, the port on the western side of the island. Hora or Messaria, the island's capital is 8 km. from Merihas and stands on ahillside plateau.
Hora is a typical Cycladic village, it is noted for its beautiful churches with their fine wood-carving, sanctuary screens and icons. Its building began in the early 17th century and there is a strong Cycladic flavor to the architecture, with cobbled streets and arcades. The Grimanelis and Kazoulis houses in the upper town are worth visiting, with traditional interiors and exteriors. The oldest church is that of Agia Triada (Holy Trinity), a single-aisled basilica with a dome. This is followed by St. Savvas, with an inscription over the door dating it to 1613 and the coat-of-arms of Gozadino andPanagia Sotira, renovated in 1636 and with a 17th century screen. A little way outside Hora is the church of the old monastery Panagia Nikous, which stands on an attractive hill. The church has interesting architecture and preserves an Easter bier. At this monastery the feast of the Dormition of the Virgin Mary on 15th of August is observed with the traditional festivities. Nearby is the dissolved convent of John the Baptist (at Hourdaki). At this church the screen dates from the 17th century and is of incalculable value. Here is the site of the wind and solar energy installations which power Kythnos.
In the north-eastern part of the island lies Loutra (12 km from the port). The bay of Loutra consists of three inlets, Loutra, Agia Irini and Schinari, each with a village at its neck, facing north and at the mercy of the wind, which is why a breakwater is being built. Loutra is renowned for its radioactive thermal springs, which are considered beneficial to sufferers from arthritis, dermatitis and gynecological problems. The Agii Anargyriand Kakavos springs here are the only medicinal ones in the Cyclades. There are carved marble baths dating from ancient times within the premises of the Xenia hotel, which belongs to the G.N.T.O. There are also small hotels and rooms can be rented. Nice small beaches can be visited - in a walking distance from the village.
Near Apokrousi bay are the ruins of Vryokastro, still waiting the archaeologist's trowel.
Merichas is the island's port and has hotel, taverns, restaurants, bars, discos etc.
A little way to the south is the island's former capital, which retains its ancient name of Driopida (4,5 km from Merichas) - a picturesque village, very typical of the island. Dryopida is called Syllaka from the locals on account of the river bed dividing it into two parts, named Galatas and Pera Rouga. The typical Cycladic architecture of the island has one peculiarity here : instead of flat roofs all the houses are tiled and this is a result of the fact that Dryopida was in former days a great pottery center - an industry which helped the development of the area. Only one workshop is operative today. Those interested in Byzantine art might find worth their while to walk up the hill to Galatas and visit the church of St. Minas, with a fine 17th century screen, a bishop's throne and an Easter bier with folk art decoration. There are a lot of other churches, many of them with interesting portable icons.
In the 17th century Kythnos was something of a center of icon-painting, with the Skordilis family the most active producers. Many of their works have survived in Chora and at Dryopida.  The Katafyki cave is interesting and there is a church of St. John the Baptist at the entry to the village.
In the south-east, the monastery of Panagia Kanala (11,5 km from the port), the patron saint of the island, stands on a very attractive promontory facing towards Serifos, with a beautiful expanse of sandy beach. The building is of great interest and the scenery is reminiscent of a fjord - in Greek colors. On August 15th and September 8th major religious festivals take place. The icon of Panagia is the work of one of the Skordilis family and, according to tradition, was found floating upright in a channel. since 1950 a village has grownup around the church and its little harbor and the whole area has been planted with pine trees. A lot of locals have built houses which are used like their "summer houses".
Taking the road back to Dryopida one can pass the old monastery of Stratilatisa, one of the seven dissolved monasteries on the island.
Another way of getting to see the island is to sail round it. This can be easily be accomplished and will provide the visitor with a brief idea of the landscape and is also a good opportunity for a swim at one of the less frequented beaches.

History of Kythnos

It was on the small island of Kythnos, famous in antiquity for the excellence of its administration (according to Aristotle in his "Constitution of Kythnos") that recent archaeological finds have provided evidence of the earliest presence of man in the Cyclades.
The island was named after Kythno, the leader of Dryopes. It is said that Dryopes were the first inhabitants of the island. Kythnos, though, it is not the only name used. You may hear the locals call it Thermia. The name came from the springs located at Loutra.

Ancient times

The legends say that the Dryopes, who came from Eboea, settled on Kythnos in the 12th or 11th century BC. In Classical times the island was an independent city-state so well-organized that Aristotele described it in his "Concerning the State of Kythnos". n the Persian Wars the Kythnians were neutral at first, but hastened to the aid of the Greek forces in the sea-battle off Cape Artemision in Eboea. As a client-state of Athens, it was that side that the islanders took in the Peloponnesian War. In Romans times piracy grew and was the scourge of the islanders.

Middle Ages

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.

Modern times

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 Chora.

Historical Monuments

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 Chora (Messaria). Kastro has ruins of houses and of two churches.

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