The island was firstly inhabited during the Prehistoric Age (3000 B.C.) and developed close relationships with the Minoans of Crete. It has been granted to the family Venieri and to the Venetians, for a short time it was under Turkish occupation and the English sovereign. It was integrated to Greece on 21 May 1864. In the south-eastern part of Peloponnese it is situated the island of Kythereia Aphrodite, one of our big islands in extent of 284 sq.km. and in a distance of 108 n.m. (7 hours) from Piraeus. Kythira have quite a few green landscapes and fascinating beaches. The traditional villages, the castles, the monasteries, the churches, the magnificent bays with the purple seashores, the amazing landscapes compose the natural beauty of the island. The picturesque capital Kythira or Hora, climbed up in a hill with its white houses, the narrow streets, the arches, the Venetian Castle and the double small port of Kapsali below, form a unique picture. The Venetian Castle was built in 1502 in a niche place with view to Antikythira and the islet Avgo, on a former byzantine castle (1150). Internally the castle, left over the time, there are buildings and churches as of Panaghia Myrtidiotissa, Panaghia Orphani and Pantokratoras. Kapsali with its double small port cut through in the middle by a small peninsula, the church of St. George and the lighthouse at the two tops, is the harbour serving Hora. 4 km. north of the capital it is Livadi, a traditional village right on the central road with mansions from the time of English sovereign. You can visit the stone bridge of Katouni built in 1822 by the English high commissioner Macvel. Afine settlement of Livadi is Travassarianika, whereas close to Livadi are the villages Drymonas and Kontolianika. Going on through a course of amazing natural beauty you will reach the Monastery of Panaghia Myrtidiotissa. On the central road of the island it is located the small, picturesque village Dokana as well as Aroniadika, near the big village Potamos. St. Pelaghia is a by the sea village, 26 km. north of the capital. You can visit the ravine of Lagada. In the green full of trees village Mylopotamos you will see the monastery of Panaghia Orphani, a Venetian castle, the cavern of St. Sophia and the waterfall in the location Fonissa. The settlement Diakofti, 30 km. north-west from Hora, is the new port of the island with the islet Makrykythira with which it is connected by a narrow passage. To the southern part of the island there is the village Kalamos famous for its honey of extra quality. One of the oldest villages of Kythira, with unlimited view to the ravines and with abudant waters is Mitata, in a distance of 8 km. from the immense beach of Palaeopolis.