Ithaca

Ithaca - Ionian Islands (Greece)

Ithaki or Ithaca is a wonderfully quiet Greek island without mass tourism. It is located close to the island of Kefalonia and to the south of Lefkada. It is part of the Ionian island group. According to the Odyssey by Homer, Odysseus was king of this island.

During the summer months, many former islanders, who have since emigrated, visit their island with their families.  Due to the location in the Ionian Sea, many sailing boats come to the ports in Vathy, Frikes and Kioni. Also possible are day trips from Ithaca to other islands. There are no large beaches on Ithaca but there are plenty of small beaches where you can the beach all to yourself in the first two weeks of August!

In the main town of Vathy are shops, restaurants and cozy terraces. Near Vathy, located on the mountain slopes is the traditional village of Perachori, a nice quiet mountain village. For a wonderful trip, go from Vathy via Lefki to Stavros in the north of Ithaca. From the big bay to Vathy there are two routes; One via the main road (the west side), the other choice is to go through the high mountain (the east side). Either way, you arrive in Stavros. Stavros is a nice village with some shops and tavernas.

Under Stavros lies the Polis Bay with a tavern and beach, a beautiful anchorage for yachts. Then you can continue to the beautiful mountain village of Exogi, to the sources of Kalamos or to the harbors of Frikes and Kioni, both peaceful villages! You can take beautiful walks or mountaineering tours across the island.

If you want to stay on the island, there are plenty of possibilities to stay overnight, but from the end of July to the second half of August we recommend making your reservation in advance.

Sights and tips Ithaki

• Kioni, a traditional village with a beautiful harbor where many yachts moor in the summer. The bay's entrance is flanked by three half-ruined mills.
   
• Ithaca / Vathy is the capital of the island and in1982 was declared an historical fortified place. It has a natural bay of unparalleled beauty with the islet "Lazereto" in the middle.

• The Nymphon cave which is also called "Marmarospilia" (Marble Cave). The cave has two entry points, one for the Gods and one for the mortals. It consists of interesting stalactites.

• Abbey Katharon is dedicated to the Virgin Mary of Kathari, the patron Saint of the island and contains a valuable icon of the Virgin Mary and a bell tower with views to the port of Ithaca.

• The Church of Kimiseos Theotocou. The church was built in the twelfth century is an ornament for the village. It has beautiful frescoes and a Venetian bell tower.

• The Loizos cave. It was a place where the gods worshiped during the first Greek civilization, in the bay of Gallipoli, where an ancient underwater city once lay.

• Karaiskakis' house: A small portion of the stone house has been preserved in Kioni where Georgios Karaiskakis, the hero of the Greek Revolution of 1821, once lived.

• Paliochora: from Perachori, a path leads to the ruins of the medieval town Paliochora where churches with Byzantine icons are located.

Good to know: Ithaca is a small island with a glorious history, known all around the world because it was the homeland of Odysseus, the hero of Homer's Odyssey.

How to get on Ithaca?

Ithaca is connected daily by ferry with Cephalonia, Lefkada (Lefkas), Patra (Peloponnese) and in the prefecture Aetoloakrnania. Ithaca has two ports, Vathy and Piso Aetos, both connected with Sami and Patras. Piso Aetos is also connected to Fiskardo of Kefalonia, to Vassiliki of Lefkada and Astakos of Aetolokarnania (Greek mainland – Central Greece). Ferries connect also Frikes to Fiskardo, Vassiliki  and Nydri (Lefkada).

Η Ιθάκη είναι νησί των Επτανήσων και βρίσκεται στα νότια της Λευκάδας και στα βορειοανατολικά της Κεφαλλονιάς, από την οποία χωρίζεται με τον ομώνυμο πορθμό. Πρωτεύουσά της είναι το Βαθύ. Πρόκειται για επίμηκες νησί με έκταση 117 τ.χλμ και πληθυσμό 3.231 κατοίκους σύμφωνα με την απογραφή του 2011. Έως το 2011 αποτελούσε, μαζί με άλλα μικρότερα νησιά, την επαρχία Ιθάκης και ανήκε στο Νομό Κεφαλληνίας. Από το 2011, με την εφαρμογή του Προγράμματος Καλλικράτης αποτελεί ξεχωριστή Περιφερειακή Ενότητα. Ουδεμία μεταβολή επήλθε στον ομώνυμο Δήμο, σύμφωνα με το άρθρο 1,§ 2.25.Β. αυτού. Η Ιθάκη ανήκει Διοικητικά στην Περιφέρεια Ιονίων Νήσων.

Η Ιθάκη συνδέεται ακτοπλοϊκώς καθημερινά με την Κεφαλλονιά, τη Λευκάδα, την Πάτρα και τον Αστακό. Έχει 2 λιμάνια, το Βαθύ και τον Πίσω Αετό, που συνδέονται αμφότερα με την Πάτρα μέσω Σάμης (λιμάνι της Κεφαλλονιάς). Ο Πίσω Αετός συνδέεται επίσης με το Φισκάρδο της Κεφαλλονιάς, τη Βασιλική της Λευκάδας και τον Αστακό. Πλοία συνδέουν τις Φρίκες με το Φισκάρδο και τη Βασιλική ή το Νυδρί.