A few words about Kythnos Island in Greece

Kythnos Island is one of the closest to Athens Cycladic islands, remains one of the most unknown and isolated corners of the Aegean.

Kythnos Island is also strongly called Thermia because of the natural spa at the port of Loutra, which was once the biggest magnet for visitors of Kythnos in the 19th and 20th century, but have declined in recent years.

The northern part of Kythnos Island is the most populous and here are the villages Merichas and the harbor, Chora the capital, Loutra and Dryopida. The southern part of Kythnos Island is almost uninhabited, with the only exceptions of the village Panagia Kanala, where the church of Mary is located, and the small bay of Agios Dimitrios, at the southern tip of the island, where many Athenians have built second homes in the last years.

Kythnos Island has no less than 65 beaches, which is the main magnet for the few visitors. Most of them are accessible via dirt roads, although most are pretty bush. Better not try to drive a brand new Alfa Romeo you low on these roads, but most other cars are suitable. In addition, there are daily boat cruises from Mericha to some of these beaches.

The landscape in Kythnos Island is strictly Cycladic, ie dry and arid. But the island is particularly interesting because of the hundreds of kilometers of dry stone walls dominate everywhere and is built with a unique local style. Also, Thermiotiko landscape dominated by the more than 350 white churches that are built on every corner of the island.

Today, Kythnos has about 1,650 residents, who live mainly from fishing and farming and, in recent years, from tourism. Unlike other barren islands of the Cyclades, Kythnos maintains its rural economy, with cattle and sheep, and honey production. The beef and goat meat on the island is famous and delicious, interesting and produces white, soft cheeses and good honey.