Zakynthos Vacations
Set just off the west coast of mainland Greece in the crystal clear Ionian Sea, Zakynthos is one of the country's most beautiful islands. Mentioned in Homer's The Iliad and The Odyssey and for many centuries it was the crossroads for numerous nations and cultures the island has a wealth of history and tradition.
Zakynthos, also known as Zante, is the southernmost and third largest of the Ionian Islands and its position ensures easy travel to the other islands and Greece’s mainland. The island has a wealth of history and tradition, as From being part of the Byzantine Empire, then ruled by the Ottomans, followed by the Venetians, who ruled the island in the Middle Ages, naming it “Flower of the East” and then the French, its history is evident across the island.
The western half of Zakynthos is a mountainous plateau, and the southwest coast consists mostly of steep cliffs. The eastern half is a densely populated fertile plain, with long sandy beaches, interrupted with several isolated hills, notably Bochali, overlooking the city, and the peninsula of Vasilikos in the northeast. The capital is the town of Zakynthos, set on the eastern part of the northern coast. There are several, small uninhabited islands off the coast.
The most famous landmark of the island is the Navagio beach. It is a cove on the southwest shore, isolated by high cliffs and accessible only by boat. The white pebbled beach and sea floor surrounded by turquoise waters, is named after a shipwreck (MV Panagiotis). Numerous "Blue Caves", are cut into cliffs around Cape Skinari, and accessible only by small boats. Sunrays reflect through blue sea water from white stones of cave bottoms and walls, creating beautiful effects. Keri, a mountain village with a lighthouse, is located in the far south of the island. The views of the Ionian, and rock formations with towering arches are worth visiting.
