I Love Hellas: Ithaca Travel Guide

Holidays in Ithaca Ithaca or Ithaka (Greek: Ιθάκη, Ithaki) is an island located in the Ionian Sea, in Greece, with an area of 117 km² (45 square miles) and a little more than three thousand inhabitants. It is an independent municipality of the Kefalonia Prefecture, and lies off the northeast coast of Kefalonia. The municipality of Ithaca includes some smaller islands as well. The capital, Ithaca (Vathi), has one of the world's largest natural harbours. Modern Ithaca is generally identified with Homer's Ithaca, the home ofOdysseus, whose delayed return to the island is the subject of the Odyssey.

Ithaca Geography

Ithaca within the Ionian Islands

There is also a strait situated in the western part of the island called the Strait of Ithaca. The capes in theisland include Exogi, the westernmost but not in land, Melissa to the north, Mavronos and Agios Ilias to the east, Schinous, Sarakiniko and Agios Ioannis, the easternmost to the east and Agiou Andreou, the southernmost in the south. Bays include Afales Bay to the northwest, Frikes and Kioni Bays to the northeast and Ormos Gulf and Sarakiniko Bay to the southeast. The tallest mountain is Nirito 806 m (2,644 ft), the second tallest is Merovigli 669 m (2,195 ft).

Ithaca Sights

Ithaca, as someone (that someone not being me though, as, as I said, I didn't think it was the originalIthaca) has a few sites associated with Homer's epic poem.

First of all, there's the fountain of Arethousa, in the island's south. According to the myth, Arethousawept so much when her son Corax was killed that she turned into a spring. That spring is where Odysseus swineherd, Eumaeus, brought his pigs to drink and where Odysseus on his return to Ithaca went to meet him disguised as a beggar after receiving directions from the goddess Athena. The walk takes one and a half to two hours.
Then there's Marmarospilia or else the Cave of the Nymphs, where Odysseus concealed the gifts of gold (i.e. the gifts of King Alcinous). This Cave has a hole in the roof (the entrance of the gods) which permitted the smoke of the sacrifices to rise to heaven.
The field of Laertes is the place where Odysseus encountered his father after killing the suitors. Not the massive 2000-year old Laerte's olive.
Ithaca also has two ruined forts, Loutsa and Kastro, built in 1805 by the French, which stand at either side of the harbor entrance.

Odysseus sights: Three of the main Odysseus sights are just within walking distance of Vathi: the Arethoussa Spring, the Cave of the Nymphs and ancient Alalkomenae, although the last is best approached by bus or taxi.

Ithaca Beaches

Aetos: The bay of Aetos provides a safe shelter for fishing boats and yachts. The pebbled beach has crystal water.
Agios Ioannis: This amazing little beach is one of the most beautiful beaches of Ithaca, with fine golden sand and emerald water.
Dexa: This beach gives a magic combination of fine sand and white pebbles with superb clear water. It is located very close to Vathi, the capital of the island.
Filiatro: Filiatro is a calm bay with white pebbles and crystal water. Lush greenery surrounds this smallbeach, which is the closest organized beach to Vathi.
Frikes: lovely beach on the northern side of the island. It is actually a small bay that gets pretty popular.
Gidaki: Although this beach is close to Vathi, it usually doesn't get popular in summer.
Mnimata: This is a small beach surrounded by pine forest. The bay provides safe shelter for small boats to moor.
Pisaetos: Pisaetos has a small beach surrounded by lush greenery. It mostly gets busy as a port that receives visitors from Kefalonia.
Polis: This is a calm beach close to Stavros, on the northern side of Ithaca.
Rachi: Rachi is a small, secluded beach in close distance to Kioni, on the northern side of the island.

View of Kioni bay.

Ammoudaki, Ammoudi, Aspros Gialos, Kathisma, Kedros, Kouloumi, Kourvoulia, Kritami, Lagadia tis Markainas, Loutsa,Marmaka, Plakoutses, Platiammos, Pontikos, Sarakiniko, Shinos, Tsitsimidia and Vrisi are all beaches in Ithaca.

Ithaca Nightlife

Nightlife in Ithaca generally would mean going out for dinner. The island of Ithaca is perfect for a quiet and peaceful holiday. If one is accustomed to late night jam sessions and alcoholic beverages then Ithaca would be a wrong destination for holidays.
Vathi is the sole town on Ithaca where there is any nightlife. In Vathi, the capital of Ithaca, there are quite a few bars and cafes along the western side of the harbour approach. There are only two discos on the eastern side of Vathi. They begin only after midnight.