The Myth of the Odyssey
The king of Ithaca, Odysseus, is forced to divorce his adorable wife, Penelope, to follow his Achaean companions in the Trojan War.
The war is over, but he wanders for many years in exotic places and goes through incredible adventures. He resists the lures of the witch Kirk and the song of the Sirens. He faces the wild elements of nature and the wrath of the gods. His thoughts, however, are always on Ithaca and his devoted wife, Penelope, who is eagerly waiting for him, defying the time, the distance and the siege of the prospective suitors.
The Deep
It is the capital and port of Ithaca. This traditional settlement, built amphitheatrically, with the strong Venetian influence, will charm you with its beautiful tiled houses, imposing mansions and picturesque stone alleys.
The Lazaretto
It is the small island located in the bay of Vathi port. You can reach it even by swimming from the port!
It is full of pines, in the middle of which “hides” the small church of the Transfiguration of the Savior .
During Venetian rule, Lazaretto functioned as a disinfectant, ie there were temporarily isolated – for 40 days – those who arrived by boat on the island in case of an epidemic, since then infectious diseases were one of the leading causes of death. >
In 1817, during the British occupation of the Ionian Islands, the British built a two-story dark building, which covered the entire surface of Lazaretto. Later, this building was used as a prison, creating a sad spectacle.
In August 1953, prisons in Lazaretto were severely damaged by earthquakes and demolished. Only the church of the Savior , which is estimated to have been founded in 1668, remained standing.
Today, on the eve and day of the Feast of the Transfiguration of the Savior, on the 5th and 6th of August, the faithful arrive at the church in boats and small boats to attend the service.
In recent years, Lazaretto is one of the most popular destinations in the Ionian! Also, many couples from all over Greece choose it for their wedding, as its natural landscape is very romantic!
The Archaeological Museum Vatheos Ithaca
It houses objects from the excavations in the south of the island and exhibits from the Geometric Age to the Roman Years. There you will see more than 1000 whole vessels, small objects that were dedicated to the temple of Apollo in the area of the Piso Aetos of Ithaca and a small bronze bust of Odysseus.
If you are in the Museum, you will be impressed with:
- the inscription, which is dedicated to the goddesses, Athena and Hera. – Located in the Cave of the Nymphs.
- the geometric vessels, called “Ithaca”, as they are supposed to have been made in a local laboratory of the island.
The Maritime Folklore Museum of Ithaca
Founded in 1997. Includes more than 2000 exhibits. There, you will see old photographs from the beginning of the 21st century, paintings of Ithaca shipowners, naval instruments, uniforms, documents and books of the Stathatos School of Commerce, as well as other items from the rich naval history of Ithaca.
It also has bronze, bronze and ceramic household utensils, jewelry, antique tools, typical objects of various professions, furniture of the island bourgeoisie, small objects of ecclesiastical art, traditional costumes of Ithaca, equipment and constructions of textile and textile, agricultural equipment, weaving tools, church items, jewelry, stamps, musical instruments and much more!
The Archaeological Collection of the Cross
It houses finds from northern Ithaca dating from the Early Helladic to the Roman Period.
Paleochora
It was the capital of the island until the time of Venetian rule. About ten churches and so many other houses of the time are preserved to this day in fairly good condition. Thus, the visitor realizes what the settlement of Paleochora was like at its peak.
The architecture in Paleochora has a defensive character. The houses also functioned as fortresses when the settlement was attacked: one or two floors, without any balconies, but with small, narrow windows that also served as loopholes.
The location of the settlement testifies to the needs of the time. The view to the Ionian Sea is endless, while the entrance of the port is clearly visible from almost everywhere. Therefore, no enemy ship could approach unnoticed.
The surviving churches in Paleochora are monuments of Byzantine art. Three of them have been designated as historical monuments:
- The Assumption of the Virgin or Old Virgin is located on the outskirts of the old settlement and was probably the metropolitan church.
- The small church of the Assumption of the Virgin , the Maroulatiki of Paleochora , as it is known to the locals, is open every year on November 21st. Great hagiographies are preserved in this small church.
- The church of Agios Ioannis with its tall stone bell tower, has been preserved by scientists. The latter restored the murals, restoring works of art of inestimable value. The iconostasis of the church is made of stone. The old stone floor has been restored, while a roof has been installed that protects it from the damage of the weather. The tall stone bell tower of Agios Ioannis stands haughtily right next to it, a characteristic monument of Paleochora, seen from afar.
The Loizos Cave
It was a center of worship of the Mycenaean civilization and is located in northern Ithaca. However, the cave was destroyed by an earthquake and today remains underwater and inaccessible.
In 1868, Dimitrios Loizos was the Ithaca man who first “discovered” the treasures of the Cave – from him it was named Loizos Cave. Then, he located an ancient Greek burial that contained a knife, a sword and coins. At that time, the famous archaeologist Henry Schliemann was conducting excavations in Ithaca, who recognized the value of the aforementioned findings and explored the cave.
The findings from the Loizos Cave are considered extremely important for the history of Ithaca and are exhibited in the Archaeological Collection of North Ithaca , in Stavros. Among them stand out the bronze tripods, which were used for weights to the gods and the most important find of the archaeological research in Ithaca, the fragment with the inscription “WISH ODYSSEY”, which proves that the Homeric hero was a real person.
Ithaca, therefore, has a rich history that dates back to antiquity. It is worth visiting, in addition to the above, the Early Helladic Ecology of Pelikata , the Archaeological Site of Agios Athanasios – the School of Homer and the huge, impressive boulders of Anogi .Dream Beaches
The beaches of Ithaca are characterized by crystal clear waters and dense vegetation, which in many reaches the sea! Most can be reached by car or on foot, but some can only be reached by sea. See below the most beautiful beaches of the island.
Filiatro
It is the most cosmopolitan beach of the island. It has pebbles and amazing turquoise waters. The beach is organized in one part, with umbrellas and sunbeds, while there is also a beach bar.
Moniments
It is an unorganized, pebbled, windless beach with dense vegetation, which offers shade until noon.
Back Eagle – Back Eagle
It is located next to the port of Piso Aetos of Ithaca.
It has white pebbles and clear crystal clear waters. Olive trees reach the point where the wave breaks, providing adequate shade.
Gidaki
It is one of the most beautiful beaches of Ithaca. It has clear blue waters, pebbles and is surrounded by lush vegetation.
You will reach it either by boat or by foot (30-40 minutes walk), which starts from the beach of Skinos .
Sand of Mary
These are two beautiful beaches, which are separated by rocks, surrounded by dense vegetation and are accessible only by sea.
In these you will find large white pebbles and you will cool in crystal clear emerald waters.
Skin
It is a magical beach, which is surrounded by a green landscape, with pines reaching the sea! It is stony with shallow crystal clear waters.
Sarakinikos
This is a beautiful unorganized beach with white pebbles and clear emerald waters. Although it has olive trees all around, it does not provide natural shade.
Μάρμακας
Tall eucalyptus trees offer plenty of shade to those who visit this beach. It has white pebbles, clear blue waters and offers views of the island of Agios Nikolaos. There is also a canteen.
Camps
Although the beach is unorganized and has no natural shade, it is impressive with pebbles and emerald crystal clear waters. It is accessible by a passable dirt road and ideal for those who want to spend a quiet day by the sea.
White Sea
White pebbles, dense vegetation and beautiful rock formations compose the enchanting scenery.
It does not provide natural shade and has only a few umbrellas in one part.
Here you will also see sea lilies!
Wide Sand
This is an unorganized beach with exotic beauty. Many consider it the best of Ithaca. It is wide with fine all-white sand and clear blue waters.
You can only reach the beach by sea, by local kayaks or by boat.
Tip: Most of the beaches on the island are not organized, so make sure you prepare properly. Be sure to bring ice water and a snack.
The Gastronomic Paradise of Ithaca
The island produces excellent quality local products, such as honey, herbs, olive oil, wine and cheese. If you find yourself in it, do not forget to try the special traditional recipes:
- “Bourget” – Spicy fish soup.
- “Savoro” – Delicious spicy sauce, which accompanies fried fish. Its main ingredients are olive oil, vinegar, flour, garlic and rosemary. It may also contain raisins, tomato paste, bay leaves or other herbs.
- “Sofigado” – Meat with potatoes or meat with sweet and sour taste, which contains plenty of onion, petimezi and quinces.
- Chicken “tserepato” – Traditional way in which the islanders cook chicken.
- The baking cake “Rovani” – The traditional sweet of Ithaca.
