Rugged Itháki , Odysseus's legendary homeland, has yielded no substantial archeological discoveries, but it fits Homer's description to perfection: "There are no tracks, nor grasslands & it is a rocky severe island, unsuited for horses, but not so wretched, despite its small size. It is good for goats." In Constantine Cavafy's splendid poem Ithaca , the island is symbolized as a journey to life:

 

When you set out on the voyage to Ithaca
Pray that your journey may be long
Full of adventures, full of knowledge .

Despite the romance of its name, and its proximity to Kefalloniá, very little tourist development has arrived to spoil the place. This is doubtless accounted for in part by a dearth of beaches, though the island is good walking country, with a handful of small fishing villages and various pebbly coves to swim from. In the north, apart from the ubiquitous drone of scooters, the most common sounds are sheep bells jangling and cocks (a symbol of Odysseus) crowing.

Its beaches are minor, mainly pebbly with sandy seabeds, but relatively clean and safe; the real attractions are the interior and sites from the Odyssey . Some package travellers will find themselves flying into Kefalloniá and being bused to Fiskárdho (sit on the left for the bus ride of your life), for a short ferry crossing to Fríkes or the premier resort Kióni . Most visitors, however, will arrive at Vathy , the capital.