View and book hotels in Gytheion. Click here.

Gytheion By the port Marathonisi Area Map

On either side of the town and for a few kilometres there are nice beaches with small taverns.

Gytheion was inhabited since the early historic times, serving as a trading station to the Phoenicians. During the Peloponnesian War, it was a Spartan naval base, destroyed by Athenians in 455 BC. Later it was fortified becoming such a powerful port that when seized in 195 BC it possessed the entire necessary infrastructure for use as an important export harbour.

The modern town of Gytheion has an island touch with its neo classical buildings. To the north of its entrance lies the ancient city with ruins of its acropolis on an adjacent hill and the theatre of the Roman era.

Exactly opposite Gytheion is Marathonisi also called Kranae, which today is linked with the land across. According to the popular belief it is the island where Paris and beautiful Helen of Sparta are said to have spent a night. The castle of the Tzanetakis family stands in the heart of Marathonisi.

The Town Hall houses Gytheion archaeological and Byzantine collection. There is also a theatre built during the first years AC.

At a distance of 10 km from Gythion on the road to Areopolis stands the Fort of Passavas, which is a Frank Fort, built in 1254 with its castles still standing.