Ithaca - island, which is not the most visited in Greece.Tourists from Russia increasingly prefer other exotic places of the Mediterranean.Most likely, this is due to the lack of domestic charter flights to this part of the world.You can get there by a ferry.
From a distance, this island is no different from the others, dozens of whom are in the Ionian Sea.It has a relatively small mountainous territory, which is inhabited by several thousand people.The capital and port of the island is the city of Wafi whose appearance suggests that this modest piece of land at the time the rules of epic Odyssey.
origin of the name of the island
name of the island there is a long time.Celebrity associated with his work of Homer's "Odyssey".Virtually all experts and researchers agree that modern and Homeric Ithaca - it's the same thing.A different definition of the geographical location associated with the lack of knowledge about the features of the poet's personal typography of the island.Or it is his "poetic imagination»
in history, there are several theories about the origin of its name.According to one of them, it was named in honor of the first indigenous inhabitants - Ithaca.Other versions say its Phoenician origins.
Greek period of Ithaca
oldest archaeological finds discovered on the north side of the island.They date back to the early Greek period.Zenith of the island observed during the Mycenaean era, when the elders of the island of Ithaca Odysseus was.The kingdom in those days consisted of lying around the islands and part of mainland Greece.Therefore, this small piece of land in the middle of water has a lot of stories and legends.According to one of them, there was once Penelope - is the queen of the island of Ithaca, who waited for her husband there for 20 years.The inhabitants of this land surrounded by sea waters, mariners were.They sailed far beyond the Mediterranean.
Over time the island began a period of decline.Ithaca (island) becomes uninteresting for the Dorians.The main reason for this - the local soil infertility.But the population of the island has not gone anywhere, and begin to engage in the cultivation of its northern part.It becomes very important center where many trade routes intersect.There is the presence of economic and cultural development of Ithaca.
Island during the Roman domination
Ithaca from 180 years BC to 394 AD - a diocese Ilir.Christianity was established here during the Byzantine period.Then the island was carried out construction of Jerusalem, referred to in the work "Alexiad" A. Comnenus.
Since 1086 make their raids Vandal, Gothic, Visigothic and Saracen military groups.In 1185 comes his capture Norman representatives.Orsini family, which stores personal anarchy for 150 years, in 1200 received from the Normans this island.After that it becomes the possession of the Venetians.
Venetian rulers on the island of Ithaca
Capture Venetians occurred in 1499 after the Turkish-Venetian war events.According to the agreement in 1503 Ithaca - Island in the possession of Venice.
rulers of the country have put a huge amount of effort for its revival.The land was given to the use of local residents and visitors.The new settlers massively sent here because that was introduced absolute exemption from all taxes during 5 years.Since 1697 the island run elders.There is a steady increase in the population of Ithaca, which is becoming quite significant and important naval force.
Ithaca - island with semi-independent Venetians - was the only place where there was no aristocracy and class distinctions.
French period of Ithaca
After winning the French Revolution all the islands located in the Ionian Sea, moving into the power of the French.By the end of 1798 there is an intense repression of Russian and Turkish.There is a creation of the Ionian Republic, within which there was and Ithaca.Its capital was located on the island of Corfu.From 1807 to 1809.the island once again become servants of the French.
Relations with Greece
Even after entering the island in 1815 in the Ionian Republic, is under the protection of England, its relationship with Greece is not broken.In the Greek uprising in 1821, many islanders have become heroes.
than once they were against the presence and power of England.In particular, active and many of these activities began after Greece freed from the Turkish yoke.And only in 1864 the British government agreed to the demands of the islanders.Consequently, they were attached to Greece.
For each arrived the island of Ithaca (Greece) opens with its unique and unforgettable party.And those tourists or ordinary people who are visited at least once in their lives, come back again and again.
