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Ithaca
 A relatively
small island but very famous all around the world!
The home of
Odysseus, Homer's
hero in Odyssey.
After having fought in
the war of Troy for 10 years he and his
men boarded their ships and set sail
to return home which should have been a relatively short voyage.
For 10 years however,
they were blown from place to place around the Med, taken to lands
of savage people and beasts where
they had to fight for their lives and put to various tests by
the gods.
Eventually, many years after all his men and ships were lost, he managed
to get back to his homeland alone. His love for it was so strong
that he never lost his will and courage!
And if the island was
then as beautiful as it is today, you will understand why he never
gave up.
 It is mountainous
and very green, covered with olive trees,
vineyards and oaks. The coastline is really curly thus forming
many bays that 'dig' into the land.
At the head of one of
them which is so enclosed that looks like a lake,
is the village 'Vathi', the capital
of the island.
The scenery there is amazing
with its surrounding mountains, the calm waters and the tiny island of Lazaretto right in the
middle of it.
Another bay which is at the middle of Ithaca, the bay of Molos, digs so deep
in the land that almost chops the island in two, leaving only
a narrow strip 500 meters wide!
 Some of the
attractions of the island are The cave of the Nymphs (in which Odysseus
is thought to have hidden the gifts of the Faeacians
when he returned), the ancient spring Aretusa
and the 17th century monastery of 'Taxiarchon'.
At the north, an ancient settlement
has been found which is believed to have been the home town of
Odysseus.
The villages maintain
the traditional architecture and
as tourism has not affected this island at all, the people live
in a very slow and relaxed pace.
The main products are olive oil and wine while the fishermen
make sure that there is always fresh fish available.
Click below to read more
about any of these islands:
Corfu
Paxi
& Antipaxi
Lefkas
Ithaca
Kefalonia
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