Kioni

Without a shadow of a doubt the most beautiful village on the island of Ithaca, if not in the entire Ionian Sea, is Kioni. As we entered the bay where the town is nestled we passed under the remains of three windmill towers, perched on the headland like sentinels on watch.

The huddle of whitewashed houses on the hillside outnumber their inhabitants. Large parts of the population have emigrated to Australia and the USA, leaving their empty homes behind. There are just 20 students left enrolled in the local school.

And yet, in the summer months this place is so packed you can’t get in! The joys of travelling out of season mean getting to experience lovely little towns like this without the hordes. We took our time to sample all the taverns & restaurants, meet the locals, wander the charming streets, browse the boutiques, relax by the turquoise waters, and pick fresh lemons straight from the trees.

It was a joy to spend longer here than we had intended.