Dryopida
This small mountain village with narrow winding lanes and age-old fig trees is renowned for its lovely homes with traditional tiled roofs and neoclassical elements. Admire the churches in the neighbourhoods of Galatas and Pera Rouga and make time to enjoy a coffee at the main square.
The Monastery of the Virgin Mary of Nikous
This historic monastery, where a school operated for forty years before and after the 1821 War of Independence, is of interest for more than just its superb folk architecture. It is said that an icon of the Virgin Mary was brought here after the fall of Constantinople, only to be spirited away by the Venetians, and that the sacred relic is now held in Saint Mark’s Basilica in Venice.
Loutra
This popular tourist resort first came to prominence in the 19th century, thanks to the hot springs that have been attracting the great and the good to the island since Greece’s first spa opened here in 1857. Today, the iconic hotel and the marble baths used by King Otto and Queen Amalia are protected cultural monuments.
The Monastery of the Virgin Mary of Kanala
Built in 1869, the oldest monastery on Kythnos is dedicated to the island’s protectress. Its marvellous architecture is captivating, while it has exceptional views of the Aegean.
Kythnos Town (Mesaria)
The capital of Kythnos is a fabulous 17th-century settlement with arched passages, whitewashed houses, pretty churches, and windmills. It is worth going for a stroll there and stopping for food at a traditional taverna.
Oria Castle
The island’s medieval capital is still an impressive sight with its ruins overlooking the Aegean. Discover its old murals and make a stop at the churches of the Holy Trinity and Divine Mercy, the only ones to have survived of the hundred or so that once stood here.
Katafiki Cave
One of the most breathtaking geological formations in the Aegean, with imposing rocks and remarkable stalactites. Once a mine, it served as a shelter during World War II, while at Easter, worshippers used to gather in the evocative main chamber to celebrate the Resurrection.