Spilia means cave in Greek. The rocky area on the west corner of the the harbour is known as Spilia and is the closest bathing area to the town. The area is divided into three distinct parts and each are accessed via the cafe or bar above them. First you have the rocks below the Spilia Cafe. The next part is below the cannons at the Sunset Restaurant and the third part is below the Ydronetta Bar.

There are steps into the water in all areas, so getting back out is easy. Swimmers take note, the safety rope and boays are there to protect you. If you swim passed them, you'll get run over by a water taxi.

Spilia rocks below Spilia CafeYou can access any area of the bathing platforms without having to be a customer of the business above, althougth they do make getting drinks and lunch very convenient.

Nor do you have to keep going up and down from the main coast road to reach the different areas. Start at the Spilia rocks, walk through the Spilia Cafe and down to the next area, then from the back you can walk further along to the Ydronetta and down to that bathing area.

The Spilia Cafe catches lots of morning sun and overlooks the opposite side of the harbour so you can watch the comings and goings of the boats. If you're on the lowest platform, keep your ears open for the sound of the flying dolphins. About 10 minutes after they pass there will be waves that splash over the lowest level. It's a favourite pass time to watch the unwary leaping around trying to salvidge their towels, glasses and tanning cream!

From the Sunset RestaurantThe biggest area below the Sunset is very popular especially during the Greek summer holidays when the island's youngsters spend the mid afternoon daring each other to leap off from the top of the cave.

However you can go to the furthest end away from the cave for a bit of peace.

Below the Ydronetta is the smallest area. There's not much room for sun-bathing especially in high season but there are steps so you can get in and out easily. Here people tend to congregate in the bar and only nip down to cool off.

Spilia below Ydronetta BarFrom all areas you dive into deep water so this is not somewhere for families with young children or those who can't swim.

For the serious sun-bather who wants to spend the whole day tanning, you can start at the Spilia Cafe for breakfast, move round with the sun for a quick lunch at the Sunset Restaurant and in the late afternoon after your last swim you can watch the sunset from the Ydronetta terrace listening to classical music sipping a strawberry daiquari ... er, not that I do it myself - well not often!

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