The islet of Gavdos, opposite Sfakia, is the southern-most border of
Greece and Europe. It is 22 nautical miles away from Loutro, 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). 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. In 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 Paleochora, Gavdos became part of the county of
Selino. 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.
Harbor: Karabe
Transportations: Local bus, car rental
Road net: one road asphalted and unpaved
secondary roads.