Diakofiti
The name comes from the word “diakopa,” which means a narrow stretch of land surrounded by the sea. Today it is the official port of Kythira, and a settlement has developed there. In the past, fishermen used to stay there seasonally. Visitors to the area are drawn to Makrykythira, the Chousti Cave, and the Dragones islets.
Makrykythira
It is a picturesque rocky islet at the entrance to the port of Diakofto. In 1952, the Association of Greek Writers submitted a request to the Ministry of Finance, asking that the island be granted to them for the creation of a community for people of letters. In this place, they would find, both in winter and summer, the peace of mind and tranquility that intellectuals need. They believed that this settlement would become the cultural resort of all of Greece, as well as European intellectuals, among whom Kythira, with its symbolism, had always held a special place. The relevant Council approved the transfer, and by royal decree, the writers became the owners, with the obligation to pay 60,000 drachmas in six installments. In fact, a wealthy resident of Kythira undertook to pay the notary fees and the first installment. Plans for the settlement on the island were drawn up, but unfortunately, this dreamlike endeavor, caught in the nightmarish labyrinth of bureaucracy, faded and gradually foundered, and the writers’ dream was never realized. This story takes us straight to the heart of the chimerical happiness associated with the symbolism of Kythira. Life grounds us, and we gradually realize that we cannot reach the Kythira of our imagination.
Dragonesses
A short distance from Diakofti are the the Dragonaes islets: Megali Dragona and Antidragona, the "Dragonesses" of the travelers, which are of great archaeological interest. The name comes from the DRAGO NERA which means “black dragon.” Divers from the Institute of Underwater Archaeological Research recovered ancient stone anchors from a 4th-century shipwreckno a. On Mikri Dragonara (Antidragonera), there is a depression in the steep terrain that collected water in its cavernous depths. It appears that there was a place of worship from the Greco-Roman period there, and sailors who managed to navigate past the stormy Cape Malea At this point, they showed their gratitude to Poseidon, the ruler of the seas, by leaving their obol as a token of thanks for their rescue from those rough seas. As a result, many coins have been found from all parts of the Mediterranean (Egypt, the Aegean Islands, Athens, Illyria, Sicily, Carthage, the Black Sea, and as far as the Balearic Islands of Spain).
Chouste Cave
In the village of Chousti, in the Intermittent, There is a cave that was used as a place of worship in ancient times. The excavation carried out in recent years, led by the archaeologist Aris Tsaravopoulos, It brought to light artifacts from the Neolithic period, i.e., 4,000–3,000 B.C. The cave is very spacious, with a monumental entrance carved into the rock. Neolithic, Early Helladic, and Byzantine pottery was found there.. It appears that there was a settlement around the cave 4,500 years ago. Water gushed from a large rock. Ancient sailors would anchor here and resupply their primitive ships. We can imagine the ancient sailors sailing past Malea, the “wood-eater,” for, like a mythical monster, it devoured the wooden vessels with its raging waves and swirling winds, and gazing upon the gentle silhouette of Kythira, that blessed land which has always offered a welcoming refuge to the persecuted throughout history.
The Minoan Summit Sanctuary
A few kilometers away from the archaeological site of Paleopolis, is the Mount Saint George, 350 m high, where at the Minoan period The summit sanctuary of the well-known Minoan colony at Castries. This location was ideal for establishing a mountain-top sanctuary because it was easily accessible and close to Kastri. Furthermore, the sanctuary’s location offers a magnificent view of Kavo Malia and Taygetos, as well as the southwestern Aegean Sea all the way to Crete. On a clear day, one can make out the snow-capped White Mountains, and even Mount Psiloritis. Therefore, From up there, they could control all the passes from east to west and from north to south. This sanctuary was in use from the first half of the second millennium B.C. and is the only one found to date that has not been looted. The summit sanctuary reached its peak during the Late Minoan period, i.e., 1700 BCE–1400 BCE, when Crete dominated the Mediterranean and Kythira served as a stopover between Crete and the Peloponnese.
In 1992, the first one took place archaeological research by the professor Yiannis Sakellaraki and then in 1993, 1994, which brought to light remarkable finds not only from the Minoan period but also from later periods, as Mount Agios Georgios has been a place of worship for 3,500 years. The finds include stone cult objects (one bearing Linear A script), clay animal figurines, bronze human figurines of worshippers, bronze votive offerings, jewelry, and pottery. During the Christian era, a Christian church was built on this ancient site of worship. Preserved on the church floor is a mosaic featuring various decorative motifs, hunting scenes, birds, and Hellenistic meanders. This mosaic dates to around the 7thο A.D. Over time, the church was renovated and the original monument was altered, but the church of Saint George and the Holy Anargyroi in Paliokastro is undoubtedly one of the oldest Christian monuments on Kythira. Today, the church celebrates the feast of Saint George, and in the courtyard, pilgrims hold the customary traditional feast, which is how the Greek people usually celebrate Saint George.
Agia Moni
There was a very old wayside shrine there dedicated to the Virgin Mary. In 1766, a shepherd named Viaros found, inside a sack, an icon of the Virgin Mary with two faces and the inscription ’THE MONASTERY OF ALL HOPE.”. On the other side was the icon of Saint George. A meteorite had struck the spot where it was found, but it left the icon unharmed. The then-Bishop of Kythira, Nikiforos Mormoris, went to the site and saw the ruins of an ancient church and cells that had once served as a monastic community. Nikiforos immediately took the initiative to restore the old church. Between 1840 and 1855, Bishop Prokopios Kallonas spearheaded the project to expand and renovate the church.
In 1854, the master builder designed a magnificent entrance Michael Kypriotis from Cypriot dialect. Buildings for pilgrims and water reservoirs were also constructed. Prokopios’s work was continued by Bishop Eugenios Macheriotis. In 1889, renowned architects and craftsmen from Kythira undertook the reconstruction of the magnificent and highly artistic bell tower. In 19ο a. The icon of Saint Mona was carried in procession through the villages of Kythira for a long time. The custom was discontinued in 1903.
Castelo Avlemonas
It's 3ο Venetian fortress on Kythira, much smaller than the other two, but in a strategic location because controls the Myrtoan Sea. It was built in the 18thο a. The decision to build it was made by the Venetians in 1725. It was equipped with cannons, and inside there was a building for the garrison.
