Paliki

On the eastern slope of hill Lachties, in the wildlife refuge of Mount Kasteli-Blosti at the northern end of Paliki peninsula, lie the ruins of a medieval settlement. Perched on a small plateau, the site has never been properly researched, and neither its name nor its history is known. From the visible remains, it appears not to be ancient, but a fairly populous place by early medieval standards, protected by modest fortifications rather than a strong castle. It was probably abandoned before Venetian rule began in 1500, though nearby ruins are considerably more recent. The location has acquired a curious footnote: Robert Bittlestone, in his 2005 book "Odysseus Unbound", argued that Paliki was Homeric Ithaca, and in a BBC film he speculated that the palace of Odysseus might lie beneath these very stones. A tantalising thought, though the settlement itself offers no confirmation, only silent, unexcavated walls.