Kythnos, a secret island in the Cyclades (photos)

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A barren island, Kythnos is the opposite of trendy but a wonderful place to relax. Kythnos has great food and five villages. It takes three hours to get there by ferry from Piraeus and ferries arrive at Port Merixas.

The island has five villages, but two of these are more significant. The village of Messaria has a population of 561 people and is known locally as Chora, whereas the village of Dryopis or Dryopida is known as Chorio. Both these places have winding roads.

Also called Thermia on account of its thermal springs, Kythnos has mineral-rich thermal springs worth soaking at to the north of the island. The island’s two hot springs and modern spa centre attract many visitors annually.

Kanala in the south-east has an old monastery and more trees than other places on the island. Legend has it that the monastery’s icon of Mary was found by local fishermen in the strait between Kythnos and Serifos after a column of light revealed its location. The icon painted by Saint Luke is no longer there today, however a highly repsected and exceptional work of art, painted by Emmanuel Skordilis in 1575, stands in its place. It depicts the Virgin Hodegetria. On August 15, there is a procession of the icon, believed to have healing properties, and a reenactment of the way that the icon was found.

The island has 65 beaches, most of them secluded, but the most impressive is that of Kolona where a lane of sand connects Kythnos with Agios Loukas.

Katafiki Cave is one of the biggest in Greece. Located close to the small, hilly village of Driopida, the old capital, it was first discovered in the 1830s and has interesting rock formations inside.

Castle Orias, the former medieval capital of the island, overlooks the Aegean with superb views, featuring the remains of houses and two churches. The acropolis, aqueduct and temples are located here.