Kythnos island
Kythnos Island is a day sailing distance from Athens.
Kythnos also called Thermia is considered to be the first island of the West Cyclades.
The island of Kythnos lies south-east of Kea.
It offers tourists many beaches and you must know that the locals are very friendly and show great hospitality.
This Greek island is recommended for either short or long sailing vacations in Greece.
They say the name of the island comes from the first inhabitans of the island, the Kythnos.
Another suposition regarding the name is that Kythnos derives from the word kyth also derived from the verb kephtho which might be translated as to hide.
It probably refers to a place where one can find shelter, somewhere where it can hide.
The island was inhabited during the Mesolithic Period and archelogical remains show that this island could have been the oldest settlement of man on Cyclades.
During antique times, iron was mined on the island.
Kythnos is a beautiful island and is far from being noisy for the tourists.
It is a rocky island and during the early sailing season you can find colourful flowers covering the karstic limestone of the island.
Nowadays, the locals from Kythnos island occupy themselves with tourism and in the same time with ancient occupations like fishing or agriculture.
Among the places worth visiting by the tourists, the following are recommended:
*Castle of Orias
*Katafiki Cave
*Maroulas
*The Monastery of Panagia Kanala
*The Monastery of Panagia Nikous
*Museum Byzantine
*Museum Folklore
*Saint Minas Church
*Saint Savvas Church
*Spas
*Vriokastro
*Wind and Solar Park
The coast has many beautiful anchorages and ports.
The two main ports are Mericha and Loutra.
You can find Mericha minutes sailing away from the Sandbar Bay.
Loutra is found on the north-east of the island.
There used to be mineral baths and springs on the island during the Roman times.
The beaches from this island have crystal water and you can also find shade under the trees which grow on the sand. They are called almirikia.
Early in the morning, before sailing away, you might see local fisherman coming back from fishing and they sell fresh fish.
Here are the most important beaches on the Kythnos island:
*Agia Irini is a small beach opposite Loutra.
*Agios Dimitrios is a large and pretty sand beach on the island southernmost point.
*Agios Stefanos is a beach on the island eastern coast. Sand, pebble and natural shade from tamarisks are growing along the shoreline.
*Agios Sostis is a nice beach on the island northernmost tip and has fine pebbles and sand named after the nearby church of Agios Sostis.
*Apokroussi is one of the island longest beaches with sand and natural shade.
*Gaidouromandra is a large and sandy beach with clear water.
*Episkopi is a pretty sheltered cover with sand and tamarisks growing along the shore.
*Fikiada beach has golden sand which is framed by a gorgeous setting.
*Flabouria is a large sand and pebble beach marked by the church of Panayia Flambouriani.
*Kalo Livadi is located on the island southeastern coast and is marked by the church of Panayia Kalolivadiotissa perced on a rocky outcrop.
*Kavouroheri is quite a small beach located between Potamia and Maroula.
*Kolona is an impressive beach divided by a low sandbank into two sand beaches.
*Kouri is a beach located between the Naoussa and Zogaki coves.
*Lefkes beach in placed infront of the Lefkes settlement. It has sand, pebbles and natural shade.
*Liotrivi is a small beach off the road to Kalo Livadi.
*Loutra beach is in the nearby of the village Loutra.
*Martinakia is a small sand beach just past Merihas on the road towards Loutra.
*Mavrianos is a quiet beach on the eastern coast.
*Megali Ammos Kanalas is a large, sandy beach on the second bay beneath the church of Panayia Kanala.
*Merihas is a beach next to Merihas village with clear waters and fine sand.
*Naoussa is a pretty beach on the eastern coast with a view of a church located on a rock hill.
*Petroussa is a small beach on the island southernmost and is accessible via Agios Dimitrios.
*Potamia is a shady beach along the route to Agios Sostis.
*Simoussi is a quiet beach on the island southeastern coast.
*Stifo is a pretty quiet beach along the route to Agios Dimitrios.
*Schinari is a sandy shaded beach near Loutra.
*Trivlaka is a small bay on the island western coast.
*Zogaki is located in the eastern coast, between the Kouri and Lefkes beaches.
Find out more about this Greek sailing destination here: www.kythnos-island.com