Ithaca Archaeological Sights - Castles

Ancient Alalcomenae/Alkomenes: Ancient Alalcomenae, with ruins dated from the 8th century B.C., is situated near Vathy, the capital of the island. The archaeologist Heinrich Schliemann considered that here, at Aetos, the narrowest part of Ithaca, was located Odysseus town. Locals call the citadel (acropolis) at Aetos “Castle of Odysseus”. However, there are two scenarios about the town’s identity, as there are those consider that here is located the “Ithakision politia” (“city of the Ithacans”) that Aristotelis or have written. The ancient geographer Strabo refers to an Alalcomenae on the tiny island of Asteria, between Ithaca and Kefalonia (Homer calls the island Asteris).

Loizos cave: It is located at the bay of Stavros village. Here, the archaeologists have found within its corridors carved inscriptions testifying to the worship of Artemis, Hera and Athena dating back to the 9th century B.C., a rich collection of ceramics, dating from the Mycenaean to the Roman period and, recently, twelve tripods, similar to those Odysseus is supposed to have received from the Phaeacians. Also, an ancient city is considered to have been sunk here.

Pilikata: According to the Homeric description, Odysseus town is located near Stavros, at Pilikata; “it was at a place with view at three seas and surrounded by three mountains”. It is considered to have been established in the 3rd millennium B.C. and here, even early Helladic objects have been discovered. In this region, you will find the Archaeological museum of Stavros, where you will be able to see findings of the Mycenaean and Corinthian period.

Venetian castle: It is located on the top of the hill, above Vathy. It was built in 1807. the view from here is magnificent, as you will be able to sea even the island of Lefkada.