Sand of Maria

Who was this Maria that gave her name to “Sand of Maria“, this twin beach of southern Ithaca, is not exactly known, but if the reason was not a tragic accident, lost in the mists of time, then this Maria, who preferred this beach, had excellent taste! This is one of the best kept “secrets” of Ithaca, revealed only to those who are willing to seek and find…

Do not let the name “sand” fool you, since you will not find sand here, like almost nowhere on the island. Both beaches are pebbly, with large white Ionian pebbles, that make the coast sparkle in the sunlight. The lush greenery of the landscape turns the waters of the small bay emerald, and the clarity is the best proof that the sea is clean.

The Sand of Maria consists of two essentially small beaches, separated by rocks. Access is available only by sea and, as the small bay is located in the southern part of the island, it is best, if you have a boat, to start from Vathi, the capital of Ithaca. One of the beaches is bathed in sunlight until late in the afternoon, while the other, due to the peculiar shape of the rocks, is shady.