About Zakynthos / Zante, Greece

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Basic Intro to the island of Zakynthos

Zakynthos, also known as Zante, is in the Ionian Group of Greek Islands. With beautiful and varied scenery, from mountains to forests to farms and olive groves to gorgeous beaches, the island is one of the more popular tourist destinations. The island suffered badly in the violent earthquakes of 1953 and many of the island's buildings and roads were destroyed or badly damaged and a great deal of damage was done to the island's infrastructure. In the years since the earthquake new roads have been constructed or improved, an airport was built and all new buildings, both public and private, were built to a high standard designed to withstand earthquake tremors.

Whilst visiting the island find time to visit the neo-Byzantine Museum in Zakynthos town where you will see religious artefacts rescued from the ruins of earthquake -damaged churches in 1953.

One of the more famous of the sons of Zakynthos is the writer Dionysus Solomos who was born on the island and lived from 1798 to 1857. He wrote the Hymn to Liberty which was adopted as the Greek national anthem. In Zakynthos town is a museum dedicated to the writer.

The island is home to the endangered loggerhead turtle which produces its young on the island. Unfortunately the beaches that the turtles use to lay their eggs are the same beaches loved by tourists. Holidaymakers are encouraged to find out which beaches should be avoided at these breeding times. There are plenty of other beaches and the tourist destinations with good beaches include Kalamaki, Vasilikos and Porto Roma. Away from the coastline the inland villages of Maherado, Agios Nikolaos, Maries and Gyrio are all villages that are worth visiting. Laganas, on the southern coast of the island is the most well known and popular resort and if the one offering the liveliest nightlife. It doesn't offer the most relaxing holiday but it does have lots to do and enjoy. There are numerous bars, restaurants, shops, opportunities for excursions and boat trips. The beautiful 5 km. soft, sandy beach with its clear blue waters along the town's shoreline is one of the breeding grounds for the Loggerhead turtle and is protected by its status as part of The National Marine Park.

Just 6kms from Zakynthos town, Tsilivi is located on the north eastern coast of the islands. It is a popular resort with young families with its long sandy beach, clean, clear waters and nearby olive groves and vineyards. Like Laganas, it also has a reputation for its lively nightlife.

Also in the north east of the island is Alykes names for the nearby salt flats which were once an important part of the area's economy. This, also, is a popular resort with its spectacular beach shelving gently into the clear waters making it an ideal beach for families with young children. It's only a short walk, less than 1 km, from Alykanas for tourists wanting to try the bars and restaurants there. Alykanas shares the same beach as Alykes but here you will find all the water sport activites catered for with shops, bars and restaurants to suit all tastes. The old village of Alykanas is now on the outskirts of the town and still retains the flavour of the more quiet and traditional Greek village.

The resort of Argassi, overlooked by Mount Skopos, is also within easy walking distance of Zakynthos town and offers all the facilities and activites holidaymakers want for a lively holiday in the sunshine.

For the traveller wanting to visit the 'old' Zakynthos then Keri, on its hilltop, around 20 kms from Zakynthos town and in the south west of the island, offers just that. One of the few villages that survived the 1953 earthquake with many of its buildings not suffering substantial damage, it is a village of narrow streets and stone-built homes. It's square, in the centre of the village, has breathtaking views of the Ionian Sea. Limni Keri, by beach below, has a a small harbour with waterfront bars and restaurants where the visitir can sample the local wine and food. From here it's possible to take boat trips to the Keri Caves or to the island of Marathonisi.

Inland, Bohali is another area offering a more relaxed and quieter holiday. Villages in the region include Varres, Akrotiri and Kryoneri. These villages retain the unspoiled feel of an earlier time, offering beautiful scenery, and opportunities to visit local historic sites of interest.

The area of Vasilikos, in the southern part of the island, is beautiful and relatively unspoiled by tourism. It boasts some of the best beaches including those of Agio Nikolaos, Banan, Gerako, Porta roma and Porto Zorro. Spend your days enjoying the water sports or admiring the beautiful views across the clear waters towards mainland Greece.Kalamaki is close enough to Zakynthos town and Laganas to enjoy the livelier night life but far enough away to retain its own more leisurely character. Stretches of its beach have restricted access when the turtles are breeding.

The village of Volimes, in the area of Skinari, is famous for the range of home produced foods, pottery and lace and, with many of its building having survived the 1953 earthquake it has a more traditional feel. Boat rips run from Skinari to the Blue Caves and the Shipwreck (Navagio). Xigia, near to Makri Gialos and also in the Skinari area, has the reputation of being a natural health spa with its sulphur rich water.
Amboula Psarou, only 2kms from Alykanas enjoys stunning views towards Kefalonia and still resists commercialism. With a small, quiet beach the village offers a restful, tranquil holiday but is close enough to more popular resorts if a more exciting day is wanted occasionally.

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