The most historic of all the Ionian Islands, it can thank Odysseus, who after a journey filled with adversity, was able to return to his beloved homeland. Every summer, the capital Vathy, home to one of the world's largest natural harbors, is teeming with sailing vessels and extravagant watercraft that never fail to make a stop at one of the Ionian's bright blue wonders.
At the harbor's entrance you'll come across the famed Loutsa, a diminutive fort built in 1807 during the second French occupation. It smugly displays two cannons, testaments to the island's host of European conquerors.
The Cave of Nymphs is situated north of the capital, where Odysseus is supposed to have hidden his treasure on his return from Troy. At Aetos' mountain ridge, you can visit the ruins of a citadel built in the 8th century and abandoned in Roman times.
These aren't the only existing remnants of island culture. At Stavros, overlooking the bay, lies a Byzantine city in its entirety which acted as a temple of worship for the Gods during the Helladic period. At the Stavros Archeological Museum situated in the main square, one can read the engraving "Dedicated to Odysseus", etched on a female face mask, considered an important Homeric find. Anoghi, a tiny picturesque village, the huge imposing boulders, "Meniri" to locals, are a sight to regard. Of note is the striking 9 m. Irakles, a peculiar rock formation perched on a cliff.
Beyond Ithaki's historic legacy and unique archeological sites, there lies an ideal destination for peaceful holidays amidst turquoise waters. Sample regional fare at fine fish tavernas sprinkled throughout the island; pay a visit to the diminutive villages of Kioni and Agios Ioannis; and travel throughout Ithaki's unblemished landscape.