Íthaca belongs to the Ionian islands to the west of Greece.
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background
Ithaca is one of the smaller of the Ionian Islands in western Greece. The island is 23 km long, 6 km wide, has an area of 98 km² and about 5,000 inhabitants. It is separated from the neighboring island of Kefalonia in the west by a 2 to 4 km wide strait. The rocky island is separated into two roughly equal parts by the Bay of Molo, from which two other bays, the Bay of Vathy and the Bay of Schino, are connected by the 600-meter-wide isthmus of Aetos (eagle). The highest point in the southern part is the Merovigli (671 m), in the northern part the Anoi (808 m). The west side of the island is not very structured, only the east side has several deep bays. The main town of Vathy has one of the largest natural harbors in the world.
history
antiquity
Since the Early Bronze Age there were settlements above the Bay of Polis in the northwest of the island and on the Pelikata hill north of the village of Stavros. Ithaca experienced its heyday in the Mycenaean period (late Bronze Age, Late Helladic, 1500 to 1100 BC) This is the time of the kingdom of Odysseus. Homer's epics Iliad and Odyssey are likely to have been in the 9th or 8th century BC. and reflect older mythological and poetic traditions. According to the Odyssey, Ithaca was the capital of a powerful empire that stretched across the neighboring islands of Same (Kefallonia), Dulichon and Zakynthos, as well as across mainland Greece. The most important archaeological evidence of this period comes from Stavros and the Louizos Cave in the Polis Bay. The Loisos Cave has been in existence since the 9th century BC. Cult place where the nymphs and Odysseus were later worshiped. In this cave a fragment of a clay woman's mask with the inscription “consecrated to Odysseus” was found. This mask is the most important find that points to Ithaca as the setting for Homer's tales. It is exhibited in the Archaeological Museum of Stavros. Ceramic finds from the 8th and 7th centuries BC. from Crete, Rhodes and Corinth have shown that trade relations existed between Ithaca, the Greek mainland and Ionia and probably also to Sicily and Italy. During the excavations, numerous Mycenaean fragments of the Kylix type typical of the time of the Trojan War were found. After the fall of the old kingdom, the Dorians came to the island. From 800 to 180 BC Ithaca served the Corinthians as a base on their trade routes to Sicily and southern Italy. 180 BC Ithaca came under Roman rule and became part of the province of Illyria. After the division of the Roman Empire in 395 AD. Ithaca and the neighboring island of Kefallonia belonged to the Achaia province of the Eastern Roman Empire.
middle Ages
Saracen pirates haunted the Ionian Sea. The name of the Bay of Sarakino (“Saracen Bay”) reminds us that the Saracens established a base here. The population is entrenched in the mountain villages of Paleochoa, Anoghi and Exoghi. End of the 12th century the Normans took Ithaca, in 1204 the island came to Venice and was first administered by the Orsini family, later by the Tocchi family. Ithaca was under Turkish rule from 1484 to 1499, and from 1503 Ithaca was under the rule of Venice.
Modern times
The naval battle of Lepanto took place between Ithaca and the mainland in 1571, in which numerous sailors from the western Greek islands took part on the Venetian side. Under Venetian rule, Ithaca was an important station for trade with the Levant. The Venetians gave land free of charge to anyone who wanted to cultivate it. Vathy became the island's capital. Middle of the 17th century 4,500 people lived in Vathy, at the end of the Venetian rule the population had increased to 10,000. The island achieved modest prosperity through the cultivation and export of raisins, olives and oak, as well as the establishment of its own merchant fleet. From the 17th century comes the monastery Kathara with the church Panagiaa Katharotissa. After the end of the Republic of Venice, Ithaca was ruled by two elected representatives (Demogeronts, elders) and achieved extensive independence. In 1799, the first modern Greek state, Heptanisos (State of the Seven Islands), was established. The government consisted of a democratically elected Senate based in Corfu. The establishment was confirmed in 1800 by the Treaty of Constantinople between Russia, the Ottoman Empire and Great Britain. In 1809 Ithaca came under British rule. The "United States of the Ionian Islands" was founded. Lord Byron stayed in Ithaca in 1825. In 1864 Ithaca joined the Greek state together with the other Ionian Islands. In World War II, Ithaca was occupied first by Italy and then by Germany. In 1953, a strong earthquake destroyed most of the building fabric on the island.
Ithaca and the Odyssey
According to Homer's Odyssey, Ithaca is the home of Odysseus. The Odyssey begins with the advice of the gods to put an end to the homesickness of Odysseus, who has been on wanderings since the end of the Trojan War. Then she describes the homeland of Odysseus, his steadfast wife Penelope, who is courted by suitors, and his son Telemachus, whom the aspirants to the throne of Ithaca want to kill. Odysseus is released from the nymph Calypso and sails against Ithaca. But Poseidon's anger has not yet faded and Odysseus is shipwrecked off the island of Scheria. The king's daughter Nausicaa finds him and leads him to the king's court. Here Odysseus tells of his journey home. Then Odysseus returns to Ithaca. On the advice of Athena, he disguises himself as a beggar and goes to the court of the swineherd Eumaios near the Arethusa spring. Odysseus arrives at the royal court unrecognized, where he is insulted and insulted. Telemachus brings Odysseus' bow and promises to marry Penelope to anyone who can use it to shoot an arrow through the eyelets of twelve axes placed one behind the other. None of the suitors can draw the bow. Odysseus reveals himself and defeats the suitors. The Odyssey describes Ithaka as an island off the northwest coast of Greece, rough, steep, rich in bays, not for horses, but suitable for goats, without large plains or pastures, dominating two seas, near Doulichion, Sami (on Kefalinia), Zakynthos and not far from the mainland. Homer describes the great palace of Odysseus, a city nearby, a port with an island in front of it, Mount Neritos, a naiad grotto, the pigsty of the shepherd Eumaios, which is a day's march from the palace, a spring next to it. Since ancient times, Ithaca has been considered the island of Odysseus. Heinrich Schliemann dug the small Mycenaean acropolis from the 7th century BC on Mount Aetos in 1878. and was of the opinion that they had found the palace of Odysseus here. The German archaeologist Dörpfeld took the view that the island of Lefkas corresponds more to what Homer said. British excavations in the years after 1930 again support the assumption that today's Ithaca is also Homer's Ithaca. The dome grave excavated in the years after 1992 at Tzannata in the south-east of Kefalonia led to the assumption that Homeric Ithaca was the Paliki peninsula on Kefalonia, which at that time was an island of its own and the westernmost island of Greece. Heinz Warnecke identified Homeric Ithaca with Kefalonia and believes that Mount Neritos is Mount Aenos, Phokys Bay is the port of Argostoli, the port city in the ancient settlement of Krane and the palace of Odysseus can be found on the hill LIvathos. The name, unchanged since antiquity, speaks in favor of equating today's Ithaca with Homeric Ithaca.
- The Port of the Mycenaean city, which was probably near Stavros in the northeast of Ithaca, was probably the Polis Bay (Polis Beach, see below) on the west bank.
- The Palace of Odysseus may have been in Pelikata, 1.6 km north of Stavros. An early Helladic settlement from around 2,200 BC was established here. found that existed until the Mycenaean period. According to the most frequently held view, the palace of Odysseus is to be assumed here.
- Vathy Bay would come as Homer's Phyrkos Harbor in question.
- The place where the Phaeacians brought the sleeping Odysseus ashore would be the Bay of Dexia (Dexa beach, see below).
- The Court of the swineherd Eumaius is seen on the plateau of Marathia southeast of Mount Stephano in the southeast of the island, as well as the Arethusa spring and the Korax cliffs. The source Perapigadi in the south of the island (Pera Pigadi Beach, see below) would correspond to the Arethusa source.
- In the Naiad Cave, in which Odysseus prayed and hid his treasure, it could be the poetic merging of two caves in the mountains above Dexia and in the north on Polis Bay (Louizu cave, see below). During excavations, bronze tripods from the Geometric period were found here, reminiscent of those hidden by Odysseus, and shards with the inscription “for the nymphs” and a broken clay mask from the 1st century BC. with the name of Odysseus.
- The Nymph grotto (Marmora Spilia) would be near Vathy
- The Neion Mountains you look for the Kavallares mountain range on the northwest tip of the island, the Reithronhafen on the northeast coast.
language
English and Italian are understood almost everywhere, German is less common.
places
- 1 Vathy (Βαθύ Ιθάκης).
Capital of the island, pretty harbor. - 2 Perachori. Village in the south.
- 3 Stavros. second largest place on the island.
- 4 Frikes. small village, ferry connection to the island of Lefkas.
- 5 Kioni. picturesque fishing village.
getting there
by boat
From Patras
- Levante Ferries. Levant offers a ferry service that extends the route via Sami Kefalonia is.
- Ionian Pelagos Lines
- From Astakos (Greek festival): Ionian Pelagos Lines. Ionian Pelagos Lines runs 1-2 times a day from Astakos on the Greek mainland to Pisaethos on Ithaca.
- From Sami to Kefalonia: 1 Ionian Pelagos. The ferry pier Pisaethos (= Pisaitos) is remote. Waiting times are shortened on the beach next door.Price: foot passenger € 4, car € 17.
mobility
- Distances:
- Vathy - Perachori 4 km
- Vathy - Stavros 19 km
- Vathy - Frikes 21 km
- Vathy - Kioni 15 miles
Tourist Attractions
- 1 Pyramids of Exogy. there is a triangular pyramid about three meters high and one next to it, one with cylindrical “stairs”, which is built a little higher. The pyramids of Exogi are located near the village cemetery in a dense vegetation area with endless views of Aphali, the great bay in the north of Ithaca. Exogi is one of the oldest villages in Ithaca. The houses were built in the 17th and 18th centuries.
- 2 Odysseus palace (The Site of the Palace of Odysseus)..Ancient ruins of the presumed palace of Ulysses near the village of Stavros, also known as the “School of Homer”. Unfortunately badly signposted and neglected.
- 3 Louizu cave. Unfortunately the cave was destroyed in an earthquake many years ago, but it's still a lovely place to run and really quiet compared to the rest of Polis.
- 4 3 windmills. Three mills 2.5 km from the picturesque resort of Kioni. Nice panoramic view.
- 5 Alalcomenae (Αλαλκομέναι (Ιθάκη)).is an ancient city on a hill above the present-day small village of Piso Aetos in the south of the island. It was founded in the 6th century and the ruins of the Acropolis of Alalcomenae are still preserved on the site. Many items of great historical value have also been found, including some coins with the name of Ithaca and the image of Odysseus. The Greek historian Plutarch calls Alalcomenae, alias Alalcomai, the city of the Ithacians, while the ancient geographer Strabo speaks of a small village called Asteria between Ithaca and Kefalonia. Plutarch's references seem to have received the most attention, and the archaeological site we discovered in our days on Ithaca is called Ancient Alalcomae.
- 6 Cave of the Nymphs. The path to the cave is perfect for hiking and the natural beauty is excellent. However, the cave is completely unused and closed.
- 7 Venetian cannons. Ruins of a fortification with old Venetian cannons located on a small hill with a beautiful view of the bay.
- 8 Rize's cave. The cave at Rizes is in the village of Perachori. Starting from Vathi, take the road to Marathi. Shortly before the Anemodouri area, the path to the cave at Rizes begins. At the end of the road there is a blue sign at the beginning of the path. It goes uphill for about 20 minutes. If you want to visit the cave in the afternoon, most of the route is in the shade. Some researchers believe that this was the Homeric Cave of Eumaios.
- 9 Katharon Monastery. Monastery with a beautiful view.
activities
beaches
In addition to the ones mentioned below, Ithaca has many small bays with beautiful beaches, which are often almost inaccessible from land, but are all the more popular with the omnipresent sailboat drivers. Almost all beaches are pebble beaches!
- 1 Dexa Beach. Beach near Vathi with plenty of space to sit and natural shade as there are many olive trees. There is also a small canteen.
- 2 Loutsa Beach. On the eastern edge of the bay of Vathy, 2 km from the center of Vathy, with fine gravel, beautiful view of the island of Lazaretto.
- 3 Mnimata Beach, on the outer bay of Vathy. With turquoise clear water and white pebbles, a beautiful view of the northern peninsula.
- 4 Skinos Beach. On the outer bay of Vathy, but with an extremely narrow beach for visitors, behind it is the wall of a private property, also with a beautiful view of the northern peninsula.
- 5 Gidaki Beach. Accessible in summer by boat from Vathy, probably the most beautiful beach on the southern peninsula.
- 6 Filiatro Beach. One of the most beautiful beaches in Ithaka, 3 km from Vathy, pebble beach surrounded by white rocks. Crystal clear water.
- 7 Sarakino Beach. Approx. 100 meters long pebble beach 2.5 km east of Vathy. There are 2 bays, the first where the road leads and one 50m to the west, which can only be reached via a path. This bay is a popular nudist beach (outside the high season).
- 8 Kamina Beach. 4 km from Vathy, narrow pebble beach, little visited, no tavern.
- 9 Tálaros Beach. very popular as an anchorage for sailors, only accessible by boat.
- 10 Pera Pigadi Beach. Only accessible from the sea, popular anchorage. The Perapigadi spring a little inland corresponds to that Arethusa source from the Odyssey.
- 11 Aspros Gialos Beach. One of the most beautiful beaches on the island. Easy access via asphalt road. There is plenty of parking space. A relatively short but steep descent with stairs. There are sun beds.
- 12 Polis beach. Pebble beach with a small harbor, loungers, parasols, beach bar, crowded in high season.
- 13 Afales beach. beautiful, wild beach, suitable for nudists (outside the main season).
- 14 Marmagkas beach. Nice and quiet beach with shade from trees, only accessible via gravel road. Canteen available.
hikes
The island is quite mountainous. So you should be able to walk well.
- Hike to the Arethusa spring:
The starting point for this hike is about 4 km outside of Vathy. To the left of Villa Drankoulis in Vathy, an asphalt road leads to the hospital. After 4 km there is a signposted path on the left. According to legend, a young man fell to his death on the steep wall above the spring. His mother, the nymph Arethusa, is said to have cried so many tears here that the source arose from them. The hike takes about 2 hours. The path is narrow, stony and partly leads over thorny undergrowth. Sturdy shoes and long trousers are therefore required. A mule track leads from the road to the southeast. You cross two creek valleys and then turn east towards the sea, then you cross a stone field before the path slopes down to the beach. After this steep section, the path turns left and goes slightly downhill along the slope in a southerly direction. Here you have a beautiful view of the island of Pera Pigadi. The path runs at a height of approx. 500 meters above the beach. At a ravine it goes left to the beach and half right into the ravine to the Arethusa source. The source is at the end of the gorge below the striking Brachos Koraka (raven rock) deep in a rock grotto that cannot be descended. With a bucket on a rope you can fetch water from the spring.
- Hike to the ruined village of Paleochora:
The starting point is Villa Drakoulis in Vathy. The hike takes about 3 hours. The route is approx. 8 km long, the hike leads on the paved road to Paleochora and further on a narrow path into the ruined village. The taverns in Paleochora are only open in summer. Walk on the street to the left of the villa to the second street and turn right there. At the end of the property with the ruins of a house, turn left. After about 200 meters, turn left into the road to Paleochora. After about 800 meters you come to a hairpin with a wonderful view and after about 2.5 kilometers you reach the place Paleochora. In the village you turn right and follow the sign "Upper village", from there a signposted narrow path leads to the ruined village of Paleochora.
- Hike from Stavros to Exoghi:
The starting point is the town of Stavros in the north of Ithaca. Long pants and sturdy shoes are required. Most of the path is marked in yellow. The hike takes about 5 hours. The route was developed by the nature conservation organization Archipelago, leads along the slopes of the 520 meter high Roussano mountain and offers excellent views of the island. From Stavros you go on the narrow asphalt road towards Exoghi. After 3 km you reach the yellow marked hiking trail, which goes steeply uphill as a path from the road to the left. This path leads for about 1 hour at the same height along the Roussano mountain to Santa Marina with a view of the Bay of Ammoudi. The path continues through olive groves to the ancient Acropolis and Louizos Cave north of Polis Bay. Numerous objects from the Mycenaean period were found in the cave. The cave collapsed in an earthquake and cannot be visited. Continue along Polis beach and return to Stavros on a serpentine road.
kitchen
There are countless restaurants in every touristically interesting place. You have the largest selection in Vati.
nightlife
Ithaca is a rather quiet island. There is only significant afterlife in the main town of Vati.
security
As everywhere in Greece, crime is comparatively low. It is important to wear suitable footwear on the many often steep and stony paths to the beaches or on hikes.
climate
The best time to travel is the beginning of June to the end of September, although it can get quite crowded in the main season of July / August.
