Tripiti, Gavdos, Greece
Tripiti is located at the southernmost point of Gavdos, i.e. the southernmost point of Greece and Europe.
That alone can be awe-inspiring, but wait until you see the beach. Access is via a path that crosses a small gorge (access from Korfos or Vatsiana).
The route itself is worth it as the Gavdian countryside is full of herbs and pine. And then you arrive at the almost lunar landscape of a dry "salt lake" which in winter - when it has water - becomes a station for migratory birds.
Then the beach unfolds in front of you with blond sand, white pebbles, crystal clear blue waters and at its western end its trademark: the huge holes formed by the small peninsula, also known as Camarelles.
After the necessary dip to cool off, walk to this peninsula to see the view from above and of course take the necessary souvenir photo on the now famous oversized chair that has been placed here by the Russian scientists who have lived on the island for decades.
Tripiti beach
Almost immediately after the caves we find the beach of Trypitis, it is characterized by a rocky coast full of large round stones, the water is clear with an amazing feeling of swimming.
It is a beach that was created at the outlet of a dry river. This is also the reason why you will see next to it a small lake which is home to many birds that migrate from Europe to Africa. What is certain is that due to its location, swimming on this particular beach is a special experience in your life.
The rock of Tripiti
This rock is perhaps the best known part of Gavdos, because it combines wild beauty with this impressive geological phenomenon, and it is the southernmost part of Gavdos.
The lighthouse
In 1880, the French company of Ottoman Lighthouses, at an altitude of 360 m., built a revolving lighthouse, to facilitate passing ships between Crete and Gavdos. The lighthouse operated with oil and a wick, while in terms of visibility and construction it was second only to Tierra del Fuego.
It employed around 10 people, foremen and lighthouse keepers. They had built many houses around the lighthouse that were used as fuel storage for the caretaker and the lighthouse keepers. During the May 1942 German attack on the island, it was bombed and most of it was destroyed. Houses and a lighthouse were blown up by the bombarded fuel. To replace this, another lighthouse was later built on the SE cape of Gavdos with an automatic spark on Cape Trypiti, the southernmost point of Europe. In 1989-1990, another lighthouse was built at this point of Tripiti, which operates with photovoltaic elements. The old lighthouse on the island of Gavdos was one of the largest lighthouses in the Mediterranean and its light was visible from a distance of 42 nautical miles. After it was bombed by German aircraft during the Second World War, the lighthouse of Gavdos went out.
The famous chair and its history
So what role does the famous rock chair play and what is its history? This starts many years ago and specifically in 1986 after Chernobyl. It was then when some Russians decided to leave their place and stay in a pure and clean environment next to nature. And they chose Gavdos. Finally, of those who arrived, four remained who loved the island as their own.
Then an idea came to them. They took a huge chair and placed it on the rock of Tripita. What did they want to show in this way? That real life is in pure nature.
The chair is placed on a rock 2.50 meters high and on a compass with the four points of the horizon. On the back of the chair one can read the instructions "Smile, Relax", meaning that only in this way will one be able to find the peace and tranquility he is looking for.
Diana's Beach
Proceeding from Trypiti to the southwest, we come across Diana, a beach about 20 meters long and up to two meters wide, with steep high rocks that prevent access from land as well as the approach to the point. The locals named this beach Diana in honor of Princess Diana, who had visited the island with her yacht anchored off Gavdos, and on this beach, protected from the prying cameras of the paparazzi, she bathed every day.
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