Ithaca is located east of Cephalonia’s northwest coast, separated by the Strait of Ithaca. The regional unit has a land area of 117.812 square kilometers (45.5 square miles) and a coastline of around 100 kilometers (62 miles). The main island extends north-south for 23 kilometers (14 miles) and has a maximum width of 6 kilometers (4 miles). It is made up of two almost equal portions united by the narrow Aetos (Eagle) isthmus, which is just 600 meters (1,969 feet) wide. The two portions encompass the bay of Molos, the southern branch of which is the harbor of Vathy, the island’s capital and main population. Stavros, in the northern section, is the second biggest settlement.
The port is guarded by Lazaretto Islet (or The Saviour’s Island). The islet is home to The Saviour’s Church and the ruins of an ancient jail.
Exogi is the westernmost cape on the island, followed by Melissa to the north, Mavronos, Agios Ilias, Schinous, Sarakiniko, and Agios Ioannis to the east, and Agiou Andreou to the south. Afales Bay is to the northwest, Frikes and Kioni Bays are to the northeast, Molos Gulf is to the east, and Ormos Gulf and Sarakiniko Bay are to the southeast. The highest peak is Nirito (806 m) in the north, followed by Merovigli (669 m) in the south.
Because ancient Greek writers often utilized eponymous explanations to explain away names via folk etymology, Ithakos is more likely to come from Ithaca than vice versa.
Although the name Ithaca has been unaltered since antiquity, written texts from various eras often refer to the island by other names, including:
- Val di Compare (Valley of the Bestman), Piccola (Small) Cephallonia, Anticephallonia (Middle Ages till the beginning of the Venetian period)
- Ithaki nisos (Greek for island), Thrakoniso, Thakou, Thiakou (Byzantine period)
- Thiaki (before the Venetian period)
- Teaki (Venetian period)
- Fiaki (Turkish period)
