School of Milapidea

  The island of Kythera was a British protectorate for nearly half a century (1815-1864), a period that left behind a notable group of monuments, such as the stone-built schools erected by the British Administration between 1825 and 1826 in several parts of the island. Education in these schools was based on the Lancasterian system, a public education system that had gained popularity in late 18th and early 19th century England. This system implemented a method of instruction -known as peer tutoring or learning by teaching- where the older or abler pupils learned their lessons from the adult teacher and then transmitted their knowledge to the younger or weaker pupils.
  The most striking of these purpose-built structures is the School of Milapidea, perched atop of a hill overlooking Livadi and the nearby villages of Fatsadika, Tsikalaria, Kontolianika and Keramoto. The vaulted oblong building of Milapidea features a simple architectural design with thick stone walls and large arched windows on all four sides. Despite its solid construction, the building charms the viewer with its elegant proportions and harmonious blending in the natural landscape.
  By the beginning of the 20th century, when the school of Milapidea ceised to operate, all nearby villages had their own, newly established schools. The beautiful building at Milapidea, deserted and abandoned, became over the years a bird refuge. The place even inspired a local proverb; if you ’re heading for Milapidea you are condemned to social isolation and utter loneliness.