THE LIGHTHOUSE
The light at the edge of Greece
At Cape Kastri, on the eastern side of the island, a lighthouse has been casting its light across the northern Ionian Sea since 1872. For sailors entering these waters from the north, it is the first light they see.
What is there
At Cape Kastri, on the western edge of Othoni, the lighthouse stands on top of a ten-metre stone tower. Directly below it is the old lighthouse keeper's house, while the remains of a small Venetian fort can still be found nearby.
Every ten seconds, it sends out its distinctive white flash, visible up to 21 nautical miles away. It is the last staffed lighthouse still operating in the Ionian Sea, a place where maritime history meets the rugged landscape of Othoni's western edge.
It has been shining since 1872, although not continuously. The German bombing destroyed it in 1941, after which it was rebuilt and renovated several times before taking its present form in 1984. The full history is on the blog.
The interior is not generally open to visitors. Once a year, on International Lighthouse Day, it opens to the public. If you would like to visit the inside, you can contact the Hellenic Navy Lighthouse Service.
Fano — the island named after the light
The lighthouse is only the newest chapter in Othoni's history.
As early as medieval maps from around 1300, the island appears under the name Fano, derived from the word for light or beacon. This was centuries before the present lighthouse at Kastri was built, showing the island's long-standing importance as a landmark for sailors.
The name Fano is still known among Italian sailors today. If you are looking for Othoni on old Italian maps, search for Fano.
Visiting
What to expect on the walk.
How do I walk to the lighthouse?
Can I go inside?
Is there anything else along the way?
The keeper's story
Mr. Socrates Misthos arrived on the island in 1960 and served here for almost twenty years. He was 92 when we spoke with him, and he remembered everything — the mercury bath on which the light floated, the challenges of the profession, and how he met his wife.
Read the full interview