Kato Koufonisi

Kato Koufonisi (4.3 sq. km) is a small uninhabited island who is unspoilt and have a natural charm. Not many tourists visit the island, but it has amazing beaches, as well as a little tavern on the island.

During summertime the beaches are visited and enjoyed by tourists, and some prefer to camp for the night. Kato Koufonisi can be reached by boat from Ano Koufonisi. The boat departs every hour from Ano Koufonisi and makes two stops: one a Panagia settlement and the other one at Nero beach.

Ancient Site of Koufonisia

The only archaeological site in Kato Koufonisi is some ruins of an ancient temple. Today a small church dedicated to Virgin Mary is built on the site facing the sea. It is unknown when the temple was built. Kato Koufinisi is uninhabited can only be visited by boat from Ano Koufonissi.

Keros Island

The island of Keros is an uninhabited island in the middle of the Cyclades near Koufonisia. The island is only 15 sq. m but played a vital role in history. It shows that during 2800 BC – 2300 BC the island had flourished. All the findings of the island can be seen in the National Archaeological Museum in Athens. There are marble statues, utensils made of stone and ceramics, obsidian blades and many graves were also found on Keros.

Keros was also known as Keria in the olden days. It is believed that the goddess Artemis was born on the island. According to a myth Leto, the mother of Artemis and Apollo gave birth to Artemis on Keros and Appollo was born on Delos. And that’s why religious festivals were held on the island to celebrate.

Over the next eras, Keros was abandoned as pirates used the island as a shelter during the Middle Ages. Close to Keros there are other uninhabited islands called Daskalio and Antikeros where some archaeological findings has been found over the years.

Artists, like Pablo Picasso and Henry Moore, were inspired over the years by this island’s barren landscape.

Church of Agios Georgios

The beautiful church of Agios Georgios stands in the capital of the island, Chora. It serves as the protector of the island. It is built in the traditional colours and style of the Cycladic era, white walls and blue domes.

Glaronissi Islet

The Glaronissi islet is a small uninhabited islet with a lot of caves and crystal-clear waters. It can be visited by boat from Pano Koufonisi.

Limni (or Pissina) Sea Cave

Limni is situated between the beaches of Platia Pounta and Pori. It is a spacious area surrounded by rocks which becomes a natural “swimming pool”. The area can be visited on bicycle via a trail that runs parallel to the islands southern coast. Or it can be reached by boat.

The Altar of Prophitis Ilias

The church of Prophitis Ilias is built on the site of the early Byzantine shrine on the highest point of the island, at 114m. The altar of the present church comprises two blocks of an ancient column and a piece of marble that were part of the older church. So were the stones used to build the wall on which the icon of the prophet rests.  Local residents walk to this point every year on the day dedicated to the saint for vespers service and dispensing of holy bread.

The Altar can be reached on foot or by bicycle and it is free to visit. There is no wheelchair access.

The Caves of Xylobatis

There are two caves of Xylobatis that can be found at the northern tip of Ano Koufonissi, north of Pori beach. It is situated in a cove with the same name. The first cave is tube-shaped and open at both ends, while the second has a small beach inside where one could enjoy cooling off.

To get to the caves, you follow the island’s main road from the port to Pori. There is parking available. You can also reach the caves on foot, by bicycle, by small boat or by swimming from Pori beach.

Access to the caves is not wheelchair friendly and it is free to visit the caves.

Loutra (Baths)

The remains of Roman baths can be seen in the Loutro area of Agios Gerogios (Chora). Through excavations it has been found that objects date back to the Hellenistic and Roman periods. And it is found that Chora lies on the site of a large Roman settlement which extended as far as the cove of Loutro.

Tripiti or Gala

Gala is an enormous hole in the ground containing a beach. Gala’s name was originally Tripiti. You can find Gala on the Pori peninsula, on the left side of the cove. You cannot see the cave until you wallk to it. You need to follow the path from the left end of the beach and walk east.

You can also climb down to the beach and enjoy a swim in the cave is the sea is calm. There is a narrow passage where you can swim through to the sea and back. The name Gala means milk. The name was given by visitors due to the colour of the water inside the cave.

To Mati Tou Diavolou cave

Just before Pori beach there is a cave called Devil’s Eye (To Mati Tou Diavolou). The entrance is difficult to find as you cannot see it from the path.

If you are standing on Pori beach, facing the sea, the cave is on the right-hand end of the cove.
On the cliff path from Platia Pounda to Pori, past Pisina, you walk about 250m, until Pori beach comes into sight. There you stop and look to the right towards the sea to locate an opening between the rocks. You walk through turn right after about 20 steps and there is the entrance to the cave. It is low, you must stoop to enter. On the right-hand side of the entrance there is a hole through which the sea comes up and floods the cave floor to be sucked back down again. That is Devil’s Eye.

The power of the sea, the deep sigh of the ever rising and falling water, the lovely view from the cave makes for a riveting sight.

Karnayo (Dockyard)

Karnayo is a repair and maintenance dockyard for sea vessels. Koufonisia own the largest fishing fleet in Greece in comparison to its size. Currently there is only one dockyard left on the island which is located in the Loutro area.

Folk Museum

In 2011 the Head of the Municipality of Koufonisia, Antonis Keveos, created the Folk Museum. The Museum officially opened on June 30, 2011. Inhabitants of the island, the council and many other contributed to the creation of the museum.

Many items like utensils, tools from farmers, fishermen and carpenters, as well as old frames can be seen in the Museum.