Cave of the Cyclops

The Cave of Makri has been described by popular tradition as the "Cave of the Cyclops". It was the home of Polyphemus, the Cyclops who had captured Odysseus and his companions, who escaped, after first getting him drunk and blinded, leaving him tied to the bellies of his giant sheep.

Apart from the legend, the cave near Makri beach and the surrounding area is an important archaeological site. The Neolithic settlement uncovered within it dates back to 4,500 years BC, making it one of the most important in the Balkans. It was discovered during the First World War and has been excavated since 1988 to the present day, bringing to light finds that identify it as a trading post of the period.

The cave has two small rooms and the view from the site towards the Thracian Sea is stunning. The visitor's gaze is interspersed with large, impressive rocks on the horizon, something that takes the mind back to the Odyssey, where Polyphemus was throwing blinded stones towards the sea to avenge Odysseus, who was fleeing free to continue his wanderings towards Ithaca.