As for Kythira, there are two kinds of people: those who like the island, and those who adore it. Anyone who has already visited the island holds wonderful memories, anyone who has not yet visited the island, whether they realize it or not, is still dreaming of their own journey to Kythira.
The blanket of sempervivum (always living), the characteristic flower of the island stretching yellow over the rocky landscape, will be your introduction to the atmosphere of the island. After getting off the ferry, you will cross over a long bridge. Complementing the beautiful backdrop, a white sandy beach prefigures the beauty of the island, welcoming the visitor.
A longing begins to rise in everybody’s hearts. A yearning for exploration, to visit every spot of the island: the beach where the Goddess Aphrodite emerged, the waterfalls, the caves, the view from the Castle, and of course the picturesque villages with their welcoming, friendly residents. Get to know Tsirigo, as the locals call their island, still offering an authentic, genuine island vibe.
Kythira is located in between Crete and the Peloponnese, at the confluence of three seas: the Aegean, the Ionian and the Myrtoan. While considered one of the Ionian Islands, administratively it belongs to the prefecture of Attica.
The island appears to have been inhabited since the Neolithic period (5th millennium BC), based upon pottery vessels found in the cave of Agia Sophia. It has seen many conquerors, paralleling the historical path of Greece. From the 15th century BC, it was under the influence of Minoan Crete. After the fall of the Minoan Civilization, it was dominated successively by Mycenaeans, Dorians and Phoenicians. The latter made the island into an important commercial and shipping center, promoting the production of Porphyra (an intense natural dyestuff extracted from sea snails, used to create brilliant crimson textiles), giving the island the nickname Porfyrousa.
In classical times, Kythira was under the alternating sovereignty of the Spartans or the Athenians, while later in the Hellenistic and Roman eras, it was plagued by pirate raids, leading occasionally to the utter desolation of the island. From 1204 the island was possessed by the Venetians, with some interludes such as 1275 when it was retaken by the Byzantines, and was awarded as a fiefdom to the nobleman Monemvasios Evdemonogiannis. Major historical events in the island’s history are the forced desolation in 1537 by the privateer Heyreddin Barbarossa , the French occupation in 1797, and thereafter that of the British, who began many development projects, but also imposed forced labor upon the residents, and levied taxes upon those who declined to send their children to the English schools established on the island.
On May 28, 1864, liberated from Ottoman dominance, Kythira joined the Kingdom of Greece, along with the other Ionian Islands. Later, during the German occupation, the island played its role in the resistance, and was the first region of Greece to be liberated. Emigration cost the island much in human capital, but that is changing nowadays, as many choose to return home, leaving the major urban centers behind them.
 
“ The Journey to Kythira”, Palme d’ Or recipient Theodoros Angelopoulos borrowed the phrase for the title of one of his most beloved feature films. Others in the past have used it in verse, or just as a figure of speech. Is it just a journey, or is it a self discovering one: a journey to the unreachable, a journey into the dream, a journey to the world beyond? On the ferry, approaching Kythira, while enjoying the sun you suddenly feel a breeze, an aura that makes you abandon your book and gaze over.
Then you see it. The mystical island of Kythira seems as though floating calmly, and has been floating calmly there for ages. The morning sun gives the landscape a violet hue that makes its sandy white shores stand out. The moment you set foot on the island, you‘ll feel its calm and serene power.
Take your time. Kythira follows its own peaceful pace. Listen to the stories of the locals, appreciate their love for their island. Sample their delicious cuisine, join them in a dance during one of the numerous festivals. Most of all, allow time to stop and enjoy every single moment of your visit. "Tutto il mondo è il mondo, ma Cerigo è un altro mondo". (The world is the world, but Tsirigo is another world)