The largest village of the island, the big village, the village of “Kira”, as it used to be called. Always full of life, with people walking through the square and frequenting its coffee shops. Every Sunday morning, all the islands inhabitants gather here on the market square. It is the Big Street Market to which farmers go to sell their products. here people will exchange the news of the week, discuss politics, business and later on, at a small table with ouzo and some small starters, they will start teasing, shouting and laughing…
Potamos is the most historically relevant village, since the most important events of the island’s history have taken place here. Even today it is considered to be the island’s political center. Here, the decision was made in 1917 to support Eleftherios Venizelos and the allied forces in World War I. General Panos Koroneos, a hero of the Crete liberation war in 1886, was from Potamos. His memorial bust overlooks the village’s square.
The National Resistance, the Greek Liberation Army, had their offices in Potamos. In World War II, Livaditis’ large coffee shop hosted the partisans’ headquarters; from here they fought the Italian and the German conquerors. In contrast to the largely regime-friendly capital Kythera, Potamos was always the Venizelos - Democratic center of the island.
Many cafes, restaurants, offices and other service shops cluster together to compose Potamos' center. A large mix of people live in Potamos. The “Kassimatio” Old People's Home was constructed in the seventies by the “Trifillio” Foundation. It provides accommodation and sufficient care for Kythera's senior citizens and is sustained by donations made by fellow Kythirians living both on the island and elsewhere. The “Trifillio” Foundation is administered by a board of directors which is elected by the two most historic societies of Attica, the Kythirian Brotherhood of Piraeus-Athens and the Kithirian Association of Athens.
Making a tour of Potamos, note the historical bridge which was constructed during the British period. Behind the old people's home you will find the old British School, which later became known as the Civil School. The musical ensemble "Potamos Band" has its offices in the Mental Health Center, on the central road. Here you can learn the Band’s history and the cultural activities which take place. The open Municipal Theatre of Potamos is to the East, outside Potamos, on the road towards Agia Pelagia.
