No one who has been here can forget the emerald green of Its sea, Its pine-studded mountains, its musical people and their hospitality. The first thing to welcome you, as soon as you step off the ferryboat, is the town of Zakynthos.
Though it lost all but three of its buildings in the earthquake of 1953, the town has been meticulously reconstructed and its former layout has been faithfully preserved.
Saint Markos Square Zakynthos today has pleasantly arcaded wide streets, spacious squares imposing buildings and cheerful houses. The Museum of Post-Byzantine Art on Solomos Square contains treasures salvaged from the island’s historic churches.
Blue Caves Zante ZakynthosThe street Is lined with small cafes and shops selling folk art. Don’t leave before tasting the famous Zakynthos “mandolato” or nougat; it’s a real treat. The town is watched over by the Venetian fortress on the hill above. Only the gate, outer walls and battlements still stand. But from this vantage point a spectacular view can be had of the harbour, fertile Inland plain and beaches as far as the eye can see. Nearby is another hill, the Lofos Strani where Solomos Dionysios composed the famous, the father of modern Greek poetry “Hymn to Liberty”, which became the Greek National Anthem.
Zakynthos is almost triangular in shape, with two green mountainous promontories extending into the sea to form the huge bay of Laganas. There are more pine-covered mountains and hills in the north, but the centre is gentle and lush, richly planted with currant vines, olive trees, almonds and seasonal vegetables. There are dozens of beaches to choose from, sandy and sheltered with invitingly sparkling water. Flowers of every kind fill every available space, filling the air with the scent that so enraptured visitors of old.
Navagio Smuglers Cove Shipwreck Zante ZakynthosApart from its beaches, Zakynthos has many other wonderful places to get to know. For example, there’s the village of Anafonitria, with its fascinating 15th century monastery dedicated to the Virgin. And Maherado, with its two 14th century churches, the half-ruined Ypapanti and the sumptuously decorated Agia Mavra. Or the mountain village of Keri, where sooner or later everyone goes to admire the sunset and the stupendous view of the seacaves below. Heading north, don’t miss Volimes or Skinari at the tip of the island. Volimes has a wonderful Venetian tower and lovely old churches with frescoes dating to the 12th and 14th centuries, while Skinari is where the famous Blue Caves are located.
Inside the caves, the refraction of the sun’s rays on the water creates an unbelievable array of blue and silver tones of a dreamlike beauty.
Further south is the cave of Xingia, where there is a spring of sulphurous water that bubbles up white, clouding the sea up to 500 metres from shore.