Historical information

Vathi is the main town on the Island of Ithaca, built around the natural harbour. The architecture of the town shows the influence of Venetians who ruled the island from c1500 till 1797, following which the island was ruled briefly by the French and then became a British Protectorate until unification with Greece in 1864.

Significance

The original venetian style buildings were mainly destroyed in the devastating earthquakes of 1953. However, the style of building has been retained and building regulations on the island require all new buildings to adhere to the traditional architecture of the island.

Physical description

A coloured panoramic view of the port of Vathi. The buildings have been built along a narrow strip of coastal land at the foot of the mountain range.