| The islet of Gavdos, opposite Sfakia, is the southern-most border of Greece and Europe. It is 24 nautical miles away from Agia Roumeli, right in the middle of the Libyan Sea. According to Callimachus, this is the ancient isle of Ogygia where, as Homer claims in "Odyssey", the nymph Calypso lived. Other names of Gavdos in the past were "Cavdos" and "Clavdos" (Ptolemens and Ierocles), "Glavdi" (the Epistles), "Gozzo" (the Venetians) and "Bougadoz" (the Turks). In the first Byzantine period, Gavdos had a bishop, as it had many inhabitants, but, during the Venetian Rule, the islet was abandoned, as pirates sought refuge there. Until the late 18th, early 19th century, Gavdos belonged to Sfakia and was part of the Municipality of Anopolis Sfakion. |
| n 1925, it was pronounced a separate community, and remained part of the county of Sfakia, until 1950. Then, since the majority of the locals had moved to Paleohora, Gavdos became part of the county of Selinos. Bibliography mentions the existence of 172 inhabitants in the settlements of Kastri, Ambelos, Vabiana and Metochia, as well as the existence of pre-war settlements such as Drethiana, Xenaki, Galana, Fragliathana. Today, apart from the harbour Karave, there are three village on the islet: Kastri (the capital), Vatsiana and Ambelos. The year- round inhabitants number approximately 40. Gavdos is shaped triangularly, its terrain plain and semi-rocky and the climate warm and dry, with few rain showers. A big part of the island is covered with pine-trees and cedars, the products of which are known for their aphrodisiac qualities. |
| The islet's beaches (Saracenico, Korfos, Tripiti, Ag. Ioannis, Potamos), having recently won the award "Golden Starfish", lie here proud, golden, with crystal waters |
|
At the end of 20th century and at the beginning of the 21st, Gavdos is in a social,economical,housing non development. It is a lonely island and is the last European piece of land to the south. Just 20 miles south of Crete, continues to be the biggest island in an administrative and political way but not in a cultural way. In its long way in history, life in Gavdos is always tied with the life in Crete. Heaven of nature are Gavdos and Gavdopoula and they are just, standing in the middle of the sea above the waves talking a rest from the trip in history that lasted centuries and they wait. They wait for someone that will care really for them.
|