Welcome to
Kythnos

They were brought to the foreground by German scientists brought to Greece by King Otto. He himself often visited this place, along with Queen Amalia, and he assigned the construction of the baths and a hostel to Theophil von Hansen. In 1960, the Hellenic Tourism Organization took over their management, renovated them and operated them as a “Xenia” Hotel, which was closed later on.

The hot springs of Loutra were first used during the Late Antiquity, as indicated by various findings (bathtubs, a glass vase, tombs), which date back to times before the advent of Christianity on the island.

The ruins of the ancient baths could be seen until 1782. Then, according to an inscription on a wall, the local architect K. Zanakis built a domed pool and changing rooms at the spring of Agioi Anargyroi at the expense of Nikolaos Mavrogenis, the Grand Dragoman of the Ottoman Navy.

The therapeutic nature of the hot springs was first detected by the Bavarian doctors and chemists who came with King Otto to Greece. The pool at the spring of Agioi Anargyroi was reconstructed in a scientific way, based on their recommendations, after a series of chemical analyses that confirmed the water’s healing properties.

Info

The spring waters are ideal for treating rheumatism, arthritis, and gynecological conditions. The hydrotherapy centre is open to the public from June to October. For further information please call: + 30 22810 31217 / 31460.

Apart from trying the fresh local meat and fish, you should also get a taste of traditional homemade products, such as rusks, sausages, pies, cheese and the “pasteli” (sesame seed candy).

Make sure you try the famous sun-dried marinated fish and the local specialty dishes of “strapatsada” (an omelet with fresh courgettes) and “kaparosalata” (caper salad) at the tavernas of Kythnos.

The outstanding cheese products of the island include the soft and unsalted “xino” (sour) cheese and the hard and salted “trimma” cheese, which is the base for the “sfoungato” (the local pan-fried cheese) and the “kopanisti” (spicy Feta cheese cream mixed with olive oil).

The island also produces thyme honey of exceptionally high quality.

WINE

Kythnos is famous for its centuries-old wine-making tradition. Most of the vines on the island flourish on its southwestern side, namely at Merihas and Episkopi. They were not stricken by phylloxera, thus most of them are self-rooted and over 150 years old.

The fragrant Sideritis wine, the Asproudes, the white Potamisi and the Sasala are the main white wine varieties, while the red Potamisi, the Mandilaria and the Tsambatos are the main red wine varieties on the island. The Savatiano and the Serfiotiko varieties are cultivated in the north of the island. The red Psarosyriko variety with the thin-skinned small grapes is a rather particular one.

Most of the island’s vines bear fruit early. In fact, there are often two harvests: the first one in mid-August and the second one in mid-September.

There is a boat service of both conventional ferries and passenger speedboats or Ro-Ro ferries connecting Kythnos to Piraeus, the port of Lavrio and Ermoupoli of Syros almost daily.

The trip from Piraeus lasts three to three and a half hours by conventional ferry.

Conventional ferries take three hours to reach Kythnos from Lavrio, with an intermediate stop at Kea, while speedboats only take an hour and a half.

Port Authority of Piraeus

+30 210 4147800

14944 (ferry schedule)

Port Authority of Lavrio

+30 22920 25249

Port Station of Kythnos

+30 22810-32290

Municipality of Kythnos

+30 22813 61100 to 4

Citizens’ Service Centre

+30 22810-31640

Police Station

+30 22810 31201

Regional Medical Centre

+3022810 32234

Health Centre of Chora

+30 22810-31202

Hot Springs of Loutra

+ 30 22810 31217 & 31460

USEFUL LINKS

www.kythnos.gr

www.yen.gr

www.visitgreece.gr

www2.egeonet.gr