Ithaca Vathy

Information about Vathy

Vathy Village Ithaca: Vathy is the capital and the main harbour of Ithaca since the 16th century. The picturesque village, the largest of the island is built amphitheatrically around a deep and sheltered bay with a narrow entrance. Today it counts 2000 inhabitants.

The earthquakes of 1953 had almost destroyed the village, leaving only a few buildings standing. Fortunately, most of the ruined Venetian buildings were rebuilt by the residents. Vathy is considered a traditional preservable settlement and any construction that is not similar to the traditional architectural style and colour is prohibited by a law voted in 1978.

Some of the many interesting sights of Vathy are the beautiful houses of G. Karavias and G. Drakoulis,one of the wealthiest families of Vathy, the churches of Agios Georgios (Saint George), the fine restored cathedral dedicated to the Presentation of the Virgin, which has a wonderful wood carved iconostasis, the Archaeological Museum that houses a collection of various findings from the Geometric period, the Mycenaean and the Corinthian periods, and the house where Odysseas Androutsos was born, the Greek hero of the War of Independence.

Being the capital of Ithaca, Vathy is the administrative, cultural and commercial centre of the island and has primary and high schools, an athletic stadium, a medical centre, a theatre, a library and branches of the National, Commercial and Agricultural Banks of Greece.

A yachting service station for refueling, service stations for cars and motorbikes and a petrol station are also available in Vathy. Several hotels and many rooms for rent are filling the village and a wide variety of taverns, cafes, bars and night clubs are lining the waterside.