Greek Islands

Zacinto, commonly called Zakynthos by the past poets, is the southern and third biggest island belonging to the Ionie’s group of islands.
It covers an area of 405 squared kilometres where a bit more than 35.000 inhabitants live and is located 300 km west from Athens and 9,5 marine miles from the Peloponneso coast from where it is reachable by a regular ferry service.

Zakynthos, island of big contrasts for the presence of golden beaches and massive rocky coasts, benefits from a Mediterranean temperate climate with mild winters and cool summers; the generous winter rains favour the growth of thick vegetation and assure a remarkable water reserve.
That is why the island is very “green” and in the past both Homer and the Venetian rulers used to call it “wooded” and “Levant flower”.
The very warm waters that wash the coast favour a particularly long tourist season (from May till the end of October) made Zakynthos an object of international interest especially because in the southern part of the island the CARETTA-CARETTA turtles breed; they are a rare specimen protected by the Greek legislation with a new marine park. Along the rocky, western coasts the seals Monachus Monachus breed too and they are also protected by the local administrative authorities.

In Town you may stroll at the historic St. Mark's Square and visit the Solomos & Kalvos Museum which is also their Mausoleum. There are kept original artifacts of the island's gentry along with their seals. At the nearby Solomos Square with all the neoclassical buildings you may visit the Byzantine Museum and marvel at the old icons and frescoes that survived from the medieval churches which did not survive the disastrous earthquake of 1953.

On Zakynthos you will find the mountain villages and those of the plains besides those by the sea-side. In between the sharp edged rocks, the white sand and the turquoise water bays the Caretta-Caretta sea-turtles find refuge to reproduce.
 

The beaches of Lagana(8km) and Geraka(17km) are welcoming them every year when they come out at night to lay their eggs.

The mountain villages (Keri, Lithakia, Maherado, Koiliomeno) are famous for their true Zakynthian hospitality and you will surely enjoy the local gastronomy and unsurpassed wine tradition. Local dishes, cheases, cold meat cuts and the special sweets but most of all the semi-dry wine (mastelado) of the area will stay with you for a long time. Sgantzeto, pantseta, ladotyri, chiromeri, mantolato & pasteli are some of their names you must remember when coming.

Have a swim at the wide sandy beaches in the company of sea turtles, go snorkelling or scuba diving between rocks and in underwater caves.

Take a sailboat out or go surfing. Make a trekking-tour in the mountain-areas.

Enjoy the great weather on the sunniest island in the Mediterranean, and let yourself be swept away by the rhythms of Zakynthian life, joining the hospitable people of this island.

But that's not all. Zakynthos (its total size is 406 square km) has much more to offer, so use the special links on the navigation board to see the aspects of this island of sea turtles, in which you may have an interest.

We are certain that you won't pass up the opportunity to visit Zakynthos.

Price £345.00 GBP

Find what you are looking for at:

Enter your search terms Submit search form