By Nicolas Bard

Heading south, about 8 kilometers away from the country of Kythnos and at an altitude of 190 meters we find the picturesque Dryopida, which is undoubtedly one of the most beautiful and picturesque settlements on the island.

Dryopida is built between two hills, and stands out for the tiled roof houses, due to the ceramic occupation of expatriate workers in Kaminia in Athens, who then transported to their hometown the urban habit of the tiled roof. Today there are about 300 permanent residents inhabited, and the settlement has been declared traditional and preserved.

The backdrop of the village is extremely Cycladic, with white churches, windscreen, terraces and low vegetation.

Dryopida was created in an unknown period of time, and later refugees from Crete settled there. According to tradition, it was built in a protected place so that it is not visible to the pirates. It was originally called Syllakas or Village, but later renamed Dryopida, a name brought in antiquity by Kythnos, in memory of the Dryopians, which are also considered the first settlers of the island. The locals are still referred to by the old names, while its inhabitants are called militants.

The village is mentioned in 1700 by French Jesuits who made proselytizing missions to the Aegean. Later they visited it and wrote about it various travelers. In the past in Dryopida, ceramic art was significant, while the settlement operated in the Settlement Mine in the magnificent and spooky cave shelter.

If you are on the island and visit the Villagethere you will find the Folklore Museum of Kythnos, which exhibits clothing, objects and tools of the traditional life of the locals. There are also a small Byzantine museum housed in the church of Agios Georgios, as well as the Agromousio. An important attraction is the church of St. Minas, which stands out for the elaborate wood -carved iconostasis and the images of the 16th century.

Just outside the settlement, at Fire, is the Kafki Cave containing stalactites and stalagmites, as well as a sequence of natural galleries and artificial openings. In antiquity it functioned as an iron mine, an activity that was repeated after the founding of the Greek state. Over the centuries the cave has served as a refuge, but also as a food storage or celebration. The scarce sunlight enters the cave creates a highly mysterious and spooky atmosphere, while the quietness of there is deafening.

Walk to the narrow alleys of the village with arches and blossoming flowers, light a candle in Agios Minas and take a break in the traditional “Pelera”, which has been welcoming visitors for years and offering the special specialties of the island. Far from the bustling tourist centers of the Cyclades, in the heart of Kythnos, you will find an authentic Greek settlement that captivates everyone with its austerity and unpretentious beauty.