Without exaggeration, the island of Ithaca can be called one of the most famous in Greece. This name is familiar to almost everyone who has ever heard of the works of the ancient Greek poet Homer. It is Ithaca that is considered the birthplace of the famous king and hero Odysseus.

There is no consensus among archaeologists about his exact place of residence, possible options include Alalkomen and Stavros. Today on the island you can visit the archaeological museum, the bust of Odysseus, the ruins of the ancient settlement of Pilikata and many caves also mentioned in myths, for example Marmarospilla, the cave of nymphs. In 2010, archaeologist Thanasis Papadopoulos claimed to have found the Odysseus Palace on Ithaca, the ruins of a three-level building with a staircase pierced through the rock. The palace is located near the village of Exogi and is part of the archaeological park “School of Homer”.

The capital of the island is now the city of Vati. It is located on the shore of a convenient natural harbor and thus attracted the attention of yachtsmen. The city itself was built by the Venetians, which is vividly reflected in its architectural style: colorful two-story houses with tiled roofs and narrow balconies surround the bay with an amphitheater. All tourist life is concentrated in Vati, in the rest of Ithaca there is peace and tranquility.

The population of the island of Ithaca in Greece is 3080 people.

When to go: In May and June, September.

How to get there: by ferry from the mainland (Astakos and Patras); by ferry plying between the islands.

What to do: Hiking through the forest hills, through meadows – this is the island of Greece for walking. Anoyu was once a significant settlement, now a sleepy village with beautiful old buildings. Afales Bay – little-visited beaches made of pebbles.

Important: the Greek island of Ithaca, remembering the wanderings of Odysseus, served as a symbol of the end of the path.

Two peaks rising from the sea are the small island of Ithaca, located northeast of the island of Kefalonia. With wooded valleys, vineyards, pebble beaches, Ithaca Island is a great place for a relaxing holiday. Although tourists come here for one day, tourism is poorly developed here.

Odysseus returned home to the island of Ithaca after many years of wandering, and many geographical descriptions of the island correspond to the features of modern Ithaca. Many legendary events took place on the island, but there is little real evidence of this, and it is difficult to imagine this peaceful place as a brilliant center of a maritime power.

The town of Vati, located in the harbor of the bay, was lovingly restored after the earthquake of 1953. There are several small beaches, the place where the Arethusa spring was located, described in the Odyssey, and the cave of the nymphs. Schliemann considered the city of Alakomena to be the place where Odysseus’ house was located. The found artifacts are kept in the museum.

The bus route through the picturesque places of the isthmus to the northern part of the island of Ithaca reaches Stavros – a lively town among the mountain suburbs. Another suggested location of Odysseus’ house is Pelikata Hill. On the eastern shore, settlements near the harbors of Frikes and Kioni are popular among tourists. Kioni has nice old buildings and a marina; Frikes, sheltered in a deep wooded gorge, is a year-round port. There are lovely coastal taverns on this island of Greece.

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