Zakynthos Island

The Venetians, who conquered the Ionian Islands during the Middle Ages and more specifically Zakynthos in 1485, called it the Flower of the East. Zakynthos located in the Ionian Sea is the southernmost and third largest island of the Ionian Sea and is located just 8.5 nautical miles south of Kefalonia and 9.5 nautical miles west of the Peloponnese. It is no coincidence that it is one of the most beautiful and full of contrast islands of Greece with intense vegetation and crystal-clear blue waters. The visitors of the island are enchanted by the picturesque villages, the Blue Caves and the famous beach of Navagio.

The most famous attraction of the island remains the ‘Navagio’ which means shipwreck. It is a cove on the southwest coast, isolated by high cliffs and accessible only by boat. The beach and the seabed are made of white pebbles that create the wonderful turquoise waters. It took its name after a shipwreck (MV Panagiotis), which sank off the coast around 1980.

The area of Anafonitria has a small observation deck that offers views of the ‘Navagio’ beach, while there is a monastery nearby. Numerous ‘Blue Caves’, cut into rocks around Cape Skinari that are accessible only by small boats. The sunbeams reflect in the clear blue waters of the sea on the white stones of the bottom of the cave creating a magnificent spectacle.

Keri located in the south of the island is a mountain village with a lighthouse to the south. From there you can enjoy the panorama of the southern part of the Ionian. The whole west coast, from Keri to Skinari, contains many interesting rocks, mainly arches. The north and east coasts contain many wide sandy beaches, which are visited by tourists during the summer months.

Laganas is the largest resort on the island and the beach stretches for about 10 km. The small beach Xigia in the north has underwater springs rich in sulfur, which gives a characteristic odor. On the hill of Bohali above the city of Zakynthos there is a small Venetian castle offering panoramic views. Strani hill, located on the other side of Bohali, is the place where Dionysios Solomos wrote the national anthem of Greece.

Marathonisi, which has also been named ‘turtle island’ because of its turtle shape, is a small island near Lake Keri (the beach of Keri village - also known as Keri Lake). A small paradise, with tropical vegetation, turquoise beaches and sea caves that is flooded with visitors during the summer months.