Greek Islands

Paxos or is a Greek island in miniature that puts everything on a human scale. Tiny villages, tiny beaches and tiny hills - a bit like a trip to Legoland but charming and interesting as well. Abundant flora and fauna also make it a favourite with amateur botanists and ornithologists, especially in spring. Home to a quarter of a million olive trees, it is also reputed to give the best olive oil in the world though there are plenty of other islands that claim the same. 

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The endless ranks of olive trees can make walks on Paxos' inland hillsides thoroughly monotonous. The ancient trees are rarely sprayed and each family has its own grove; the result is a golden oil that has snaffled a clutch of international medals. The bane of Paxos is it popularity with day trippers. Boats disgorge them in droves and it is not unknown for ferries to queue to tie up in the tiny harbours. With just three tiny villages to accommodate them, expect crowded restaurants and cafes at certain times of the day and higher than average prices.

Paxos can be found 14 kilometres south of Corfu,  20 kilometres to the east is Parga on the mainland of Greece.  Paxos covers an area of some 19 square kilometres and is one of a cluster of picturesque small islands set in the Ionian Sea. Paxos has no airport, can only be reached by ferry boat and recently by Sea Plane, and therefore, has been able to protect itself from the strain of modern tourism. Paxos is an island of endless olive groves and Anti  Paxos one large vineyard. The eastern coastline of the islands are gentle compared to the west coast which are bold and abrupt, with caves, arches and shear cliffs. The capital of Paxos is Gaios a picturesque village built around a port which is protected by two small islands Agios Nikolas and Panagia. On the Nothern side is the village of Lakka and on the east side is the  very charming village of Loggos. You will find the pace is still unhurried, very relaxing with genuine friendly Greek hospitality at its best. Paxos has a permanent population of approximately 2,300  inhabitants.

Paxos is a quite haven away from it all and it is an ideal place for families and people who want to enjoy quiet holidays. Its most vibrant place is the capital Gaios, which boasts 2 discos and a dozen bars. There are another two main villages, the picturesque harbours of Logos and Laka. High season however is short, lasting usually from 28 of July to 25 of August. Most visitors come from Italy and seem to occupy the island in August.

Although possibly inhabited from prehistoric times, the Phoenecians are traditionally held to have been the first settlers on Paxi. The name is believed to be derived from Pax which meant slate in their language.

The Romans ruled the island from the 2nd century BC, and during the Byzantine period and Middle ages it was constantly attacked by pirates. After various rulers and Crusaders had passed Paxi, the island was taken by the Venetians in the beginning of the 16th century.

At the end of the 18th century, the island belonged to the Napoleonic army, and for a while, it belonged to the Ionian Union. During most of the 19th century Paxi was a British protectorate.

The Romans ruled the island from the 2nd century BC, and during the Byzantine period and Middle ages it was constantly attacked by pirates. After various rulers and Crusaders had passed through, the island was taken by the Venetians at the end of the 14th century.

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During the Napoleonic wars the Ionian Islands were taken by the French, a Russo-Turkish alliance, and finally by the British, who established the Ionian Union in 1815.

The war of Independence had broken out in 1821. In 1864 together with the rest of the Heptanese, Paxi was ceded to the Greek state

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