Otzias Bay brings together a coastal landscape and specific trail connections: the Leon Trail ends at the beach, and a walking path also leads to the bay. When choosing a location, the coast, prominent trail landmarks and a named cultural site in the surrounding area are therefore central.
Beach in the Bay
The bay’s beach is 700 m long and partly developed. Golden sand, deep blue water and dense tamarisk groves characterize the landscape. Its length gives the beach a concrete scale; the sand, water and vegetation are additional features that help characterize the coast. If you are choosing a destination with a particular focus on the landscape by the water, Otzias offers more than just a place name: the beach and bay are characterized by clearly defined features.
Trail Landmarks and Routes
The 5.1 km-long Leon Trail starts in Ioulis and passes the Lion of Kea and Dossonari on its way to Diaselli. It goes past the first houses of Otzias, crosses Diaselli and ends at the bay’s beach. This identifies the start, route and destination: the trail runs from Ioulis along several specific landmarks to the coast. Check current trail conditions before setting out.
Benjamin’s spring and a plane tree described as a hundred years old are also located along the Leon Trail. The spring has running water, and you can rest in the shade of the plane tree. Thus, in addition to place names, a spring and a shady resting place are among the specifically identified trail features. If you are assessing the route by its landmarks, these natural details add two more points of reference to the sequence of places.
The Lion and Monastery Nearby
The famous Lion of Kea is a landmark of the island. It lies along a walking path that starts in the Aghios Spyridon area and ends at Otzias Bay. The Leon Trail also passes the Lion. The route descriptions thus identify different points of reference: for the Leon Trail, its length and sequence of places are the focus, while for the walking path with the Lion, the starting area and endpoint at the bay are specified.
The Monastery of Panagia Kastriani is located near Otzias, around 6 km northeast of the bay’s beach. It is described as the protector of the island. This adds a cultural point of reference to the beach and trails. The distance refers to the beach; the monastery is thus placed in relation to the bay without being part of the beach description itself.
The different features can help answer different questions as you make your choice: the beach description focuses on the coastal landscape, while the route descriptions identify starting points, places along the way and destinations. The Leon Trail can be assessed by its length and route; for the walking path with the Lion, the starting point and endpoint provide the orientation. The monastery adds a cultural point of reference in the Otzias area to these perspectives.
Discover more destinations: Tzia, Spathi, Pisses, Vourkari, Kalo Livadi, Kastriani, Kythnos, Kea Koundouros.
For the main travel overview: Kea Kithnos.
