Get to Know: Zakynthos

Are you looking for a beautiful island to visit? Zakynthos is known for its stunning scenery, verdant hills, rocky coastlines, and turquoise waters. With a moderate crowd of tourists for the Greek islands, is an ideal place to explore and avoid the tourist hordes. Located just off the northwest coast of mainland Greece, is the third Ionian island in size, with a wide range of terrain.

It has the southmost location of the Ionian. Its strategic geographical position and natural richness have made it a crossroads for various civilizations throughout the centuries. Inhabited since prehistoric times, Zakynthos was mentioned in Homer’s Iliad and Odyssey. In Byzantine times, the island thrived as a major commercial and manufacturing center. Always part of Greece, Zakynthos was occupied by different nations. The Ottoman Empire, the Republic of Venice, the French, the British, and the autonomous Septinsular Republic ruled the island for certain periods of time. The longest and most influential conquerors were the Venetians, who ruled Zante (the Italian name of Zakynthos) from 1482 until 1797.

Its population is over 40,000 residents, it has an area of 405 square kilometers and roughly 123km of coastline. The island has two main ports, one of which is in the old town while the other one is in Agios Nikolaos, Volimes. Volimes is the name of the nearby village mountain, and it’s used to distinguish the port from a beach carrying the same name. Agios Nikolaos port has the most boats leaving to the island’s trademark “Navagio” Shipwreck and, but also to the infamous Blue Caves.

The variety of the geography, including mountains, cliffs, and sandy beaches combined with the variety of activities offered on the island, renders it one of the best destinations to explore and live at.