Although they are not fortresses of fortifications as such, the two impressive bridges that can be found on Kythira Island, have a lot to offer to the lovers of history. Not only they belong to the world’s acrhitectural jewels, but in the past they were an important part of the defence system of the island. They are both quite well-preserved, giving evidence of the local architecture from the era of nearly two hundred years ago.

Both stone bridges come from the era of British rule, and they resemble each other to some extent, at least as far as their shape and appearance are concerned. At first sight, you can see they are of a different size. The bigger one, Katouni, can be seen in the Kato Livadi region, located a few kilometres north of the capital. Its monumental construction divides the green valley between two hills, and the regular vaults will enthrall you with their perfection and precision. With its length of 100 m and the height of 15 m, the bridge keeps fascinating from its visitors, architects and historians, and especially photographers.

There is even a nice romantic legend related to the place, talking about an Englishman who fell in love with a beautiful girl and he made build the bridge so that he could always be close to her.

The second smallest bridge can be seen close to the village of Potamos in the north of the island. It is much smaller than the one close to Kato Livadi, but it also has its unmistakable charm.