Kythira

Kythira Κύθηρα
Municipality
View of Cythera's capital (Chora) from the Castle
Kythira Location within the region
Coordinates: 36°15′27″N 22°59′51″E / 36.25750°N 22.99750°E / 36.25750; 22.99750
Country	Greece
Administrative region	Attica
Regional unit	Islands
Government
• Mayor	Efstratios Charchalakis (Ind.)
Area
• Municipality	300.0 km2 (115.8 sq mi)
• Municipal unit	279.6 km2 (108.0 sq mi)
Elevation	506 m (1,660 ft)
Population  (2021)[1]
• Municipality	3,644
• Density	12/km2 (31/sq mi)
• Municipal unit	3,605
• Municipal unit density	13/km2 (33/sq mi)
• Community	550
Time zone	UTC+2 (EET)
• Summer (DST)	UTC+3 (EEST)
Postal code	801 00
Area code(s)	2736
Vehicle registration	Z
Website	www.kythira.gr

Kythira (/kɪˈθɪərə/, /ˈkɪθɪrə/; Greek: Κύθηρα, [ˈciθira], also transliterated as Cythera, Kythera and Kithira^[2]) is an island in Greece lying opposite the south-eastern tip of the Peloponnese peninsula. It is traditionally listed as one of the seven main Ionian Islands, although it is distant from the main group. Administratively, it belongs to the Islands regional unit, which is part of the Attica region, despite its distance from the Saronic Islands, around which the rest of Attica is centered. As a municipality, it includes the island of Antikythera to the south.

The island is strategically located between the Greek mainland and Crete, and from ancient times until the mid-19th century was a crossroads of merchants, sailors, and conquerors. As such, it has had a long and varied history and has been influenced by many civilizations and cultures. This is reflected in its architecture (a blend of traditional, Aegean and Venetian elements), as well as the traditions and customs, influenced by centuries of coexistence of the Greek, and Venetian cultures.