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About Kea (Tzia) Island

This exceptionally picturesque island lies 15 miles from the south-east coast of Attica. It is also known as Tzia and this name is a remainder of the Venetian era. The total surface of the island is 121 sq. km. and its circumference 86 km.
The mountain masses, which are encountered in most of the Cyclades, are broken up by small valleys sparsely planted with vines and fruit-treesand run right down to the sea, opening out into pretty little bays. The highest mountain of the island is Profitis Elias (568m.). When one sees the island from far away it seems barren, but in reality there are plenty of oak trees. Many years ago the acorn shells of these trees were used for tanning purposes and that was a great source of income for the residents of Kea. The basic occupation of the islanders was and still is cattle raising. The cows of Kea are of the best; pigs, goats, sheep are also raised on the island. Apart from dairy products (milk, cheese, butter etc.), Kea also produces vegetables, fruits and nuts of high quality.
Bee-raising is another island occupation. The Kean thyme honey is famous. Pasteli is a specialty of Kea, made with sesame seed and honey. In old times, Kea had excellent wine and olive oil but nowadays the quantity of these products is rather limited.
The interior of the island is dotted with miniature chapels, windmills and monasteries, including that of Panagia Kastriani, Kea's patron saint. Many villages are samples of the Cycladic architecture. 
The sea at Kea is crystal clear, the beaches are wonderful and the taverns are traditional Greek. Otzia, Panagia Kastriani, Pisses are only few of the locations that you'll never forget. Other worth mentioned villages are : Vourkari, a typical fishermen village near Korissia, Katomeria, Parameria etc.

Beaches

The gulf of Korrisia, Gialiskari (Yaliskari), north of Korrisia the gulf of Otzia, Pisses, Koundouro, Polis, Spathi and Sykamia.

Sports

You can find all the water sports at a lot of beaches of the island and play tennis.

Night Life

If you prefer bars you will have a great time in Korissia, Hora and in Koundouro. Bourkari and Koundouros have discos. Taverns can be found in Pisses, Kampi, Kato Meria, Koundouro and in Hora.

Transportation

Flying Dolphins (Hydrofoils) fly every day from the marina of Zeas to Koundouros. For more information contact the agency of Zeas tel. (01) 453.7107, 453.7137 and the agency of Kea tel. (0288) 21.012
From Lavrio to Kea there are scheduled ferries every day. (Distance : 16 nautical miles, duration : 1h 30m. For more information contact the Coastguard of Lavrio tel. (0292) 25.249
Local Connection : Kythnos (twice a week) For more information contact the Coastguard of Korissia tel. (0288) 31.344

• Agios Nikolaos: Good shelter; Fuel & water in town; Taverns
• Kavia: Good shelter; Anchored off; Fuel & water in town; Taverns

Postcode : 84002

Useful telephone numbers

Automatic dialing code: 0288.
Police : 21.100
Korissia Port Authority : 21.334.

Kea : History - Mythology

The history of Kea seems to have a special interest and the excavations of Agia Irini show that this history starts around 3000 BC., at the end of the Neolithic Period. From the findings, it is estimated that around 2000 BC., on the peninsula of Agia Irini, near Vourkari, there was a thriving city which was a commercial center, with buildings, temples, aqueduct, streets and large protective walls. Bearing in mind the fact, that the investigations of the archaeologists have not been completed yet, we cannot give precise information about this period. 
According to mythology, Aristeus arrived in Kea about the 16th century B.C. He was the son of God Apollo and the Nymph Kyrene. Aristeus offered great services to the island. After having exempted it from the draught, he organised cattle raising and taught the inhabitants the method of apiculture, olive processing and the like. For all that he was honored as a god and received the name Aristeus Apollo. 
By the end of the 12th century B.C. the hero Keos came from Nafpaktos to the island; he was leading a group of Locrians. Keos occupied the island and gave his name to it Kea. By then the island was referred to with various names, as Hydrousa, Euxantis, Serii etc. Inscriptions found in Karthaea show that close connections and friendly relations between Nafpaktos and Kea. According to the tale Keos was of diving origin, as being son of Apollo and the nymph Phodoessa. 
Later on, Kea was colonized by Ionians, who came from Attica about 1130 B.C. They contributed to the development of an important culture with flourishing cities like Karthaea, Ioulis, Korissia and Poiessa. Each town was surrounded by strong fortification walls and had imposing buildings, statues and other monuments dedicated to gods and heroes. Karthaea was especially famous for the performance of the masterpieces by Simonides and Vacchylides, the grate poets of that time both of them from Kea 
Simonides, the son of Leoprepes the great poet was born in Ioulis (556 B.C) end died in Syracuse Sicily (467 B.C). Two of his best known epigrams have survived, in order to perpetually recall in memory the victory of the Greeks against the Persians. The first one is related to the battle of Thermopyles " oh stranger, go tell the Lacedemonians that we lie here obeying to their commands " the second is related to the battle of Marathon " ahead all Greeks the Athenians fought at Marathon and demolished the power of the gold-clad Medes". 
At the same time a number of other famous men honored their birthplace Kea too. 
The poet Vacchylides, was born in Ioulis (500 B.C). He was the lyric poet who has sung peace, love and life. The Sophist Prodikus, became a big tutor in Athens (among his students were Sokrates, Euripides, Isokrates, Thucydides, Xenophon and so on. It was in Kea that the politicianThiramenes, the famous medical doctor Erasistratos, Aristides the law-giver and others have started their career.
In Kea, especially in the district of Kalamos, was mined the mineral Miltos (red ochre): it was used as a remedy as well as a tint for writing and painting, and was exported exclusively to Athens. 
In the years after, various conquerors occupied the island, and besides their sovereignty they imposed to the inhabitants their own way of life. The Romans at first allowed some freedom of administration but, then decadence followed. During the period of the Venetians, Kea, like the other islands of the Cyclades, became a shelter for pirates. 
During the centuries of the Turkish rule the island retained a kind of self administration. It was exercised by the local leaders of the people, who the other hand, were supervised by the Turkish authorities. 
A brilliant event during that period were the struggles of Lambros Katsonis; the base he used for his attacks was the port of Aghios Nikolaos, Kea; h became the fear of the Turks.
Once while the Turks were waiting for him outside the blockaded port, he managed to escape, after having ordered his crew to take the ships over a narrow piece of land at Kokka, today known as "steno to Lambrou Katsoni" (pass of Lambros Katsonis). Kea became free together with the rest of Greece, after the War of Independence (1821), and after having played an important part to it.

Kea : Places To Visit

The island's capital, Hora -Ioulida or Ioulis- (6 km. from the port), has maintained its Cycladic idiom intact. Built in the shape of an amphitheater (on the side of a mountain), it presents the visitor with an impressive vista of two-storey houses and tiled roofs, steep cobbled alleyways andsplendid churches with elaborately carved wooden icon screens. It is a picturesque village, with a very interesting archaeological museum. The inhabitants call it Chora (Hora) but its correct name is Ioulis - the one used at its flourishing during historical times.
At the highest point of the village, on the site of the ancient acropolis, is a quarter known as Kastro which commands a breathtaking view of the nearby islands off the coast of Attica. Not far from here is the famous "Lion of Kea" (6th century BC), hewn out of the slate.
5 km away from Ioulis lies Pyrgos (tower) of Agia Marina, an important fortification work, one of the most important monuments of the island. Next is Kampos of Pisses, where the ancient town Poiessa was sited, with an excellent sandy beach.
On the left side of Ioulis, the road leds to the typical countryside of Kea : Parameria, Ellinica, Katomeria, Havouna. The peaceful landscape is full of oaks, white-washed chapels and lonely farms, built according to the typical architecture of Kea.
On the western side of the island is Agios Nikolaos bay, and deep within it the port of Korissia, which is considered to be one of the safest natural harbors in the Mediterranean.
Ferry-boats call at Korissia - also known as Livadi - which stands on the site of the city of Korissia, which in ancient times, with Ioulis, Karthea andPoiessa, was one of the island's four independent city-states.
From Korissia an asphalt road leads to the fishermen village Vourkari, with the archaeological locality of Agia Irini. Before entering Vourkari, the visitor has the opportunity to admire the excellent sandy beach of Yaliskari. After Vourkari at a distance of 3km is Otzias, a spacious harbor with a nice sandy beach. It is worthwhile climbing the uphill path after Otzias, because at a further 5,5km is sited one of the most picturesque localities of the island. It is the monastery of Panagia Kastriani, built at the top of a hill dominating the sea and with houses built in the typical cycladic style.
Besides the above mentioned, there is Karthaea, the ancient town, lying at the SE part of Kea. The cyclopian walls, the temple and the theater, though not restored, are of particular interest for the visitors with archaeological knowledge. But it is very lonely and isolated, so one may approach only by a boat.
Finally there are a lot of small natural harbors and sandy beaches, outlining the island. Some of them are not accessible, because there is no road to them, but their wild natural beauty are well worth the trouble of exploring them.

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