Ancient Quarries

The number of residential buildings that have retained their traditional character in Kythera is astonishing. The majority of them is adorned with a local building material: travertine.

In Kythera, the natural travertine, unplastered, highlights all the openings of buildings, doors and windows. Apart from the houses, this type of stone had many applications, such as bell towers, bell-cones, bridges -  even beehives.

Being softer and more malleable, travertine obeys the elaborate designs of each craftsman. On the island, there were specialized craftsmen who worked this stone, with specific techniques and tools to cut them and carve them in the scattered quarries of the island. One of these quarries is here. It is an ancient quarry as can be seen from the cutting size of the travertine.  The transportation of the cut stones was done by boat (which is much easier).

Nowadays natural travertine is hard to find and it is gradually replaced by artificial ones, which have lower cost and improved characteristics (mechanical strength, reduced porosity, etc.).