Zante is a truly fabulous place with unspoiled nature and magnificent views. The island is located in the Ionian Sea and belongs to Greece. Is it worth it to go here on vacation, what to do on the island and what are the reviews about Zakynthos (Greece) - read the article.
A bit of the history of the island
Zakynthos was the name of the son of the king of Phrygia Dardanus. It was in his honor that this heavenly place was named. According to Greek myths, the island was conquered by the grandfather of the famous Odysseus. Since during the long period of the Greco-Roman wars, Zakynthos (Greece) kept a neutral side, he was given autonomy. At the end of the XII century, the Venetians conquered this land, who really liked the area. Only in 1797 was their reign interrupted by the French.
Great Britain has ruled here since 1813. A few decades later, the island was given to Greece. Sung by poets born on the island, Zakynthos passed from hand to hand, suffered from invasions of pirates and earthquakes, but did not lose its original beauty. Reviews about the island of Zakynthos in Greece converge on one thing: the magical atmosphere of the place envelops travelers from the firstseconds stay and never let go.
How is the weather on the island?
Most of the year the sun shines on Zakynthos, so tourists come here at any time. It is hot and dry here in summer, but the breeze from the sea gives tourists comfort. In July, the thermometer rises to +32 °C. In the winter months, the daytime temperature does not fall below +14 ° C, this weather is convenient for sightseeing holidays. Rain is rare here.
How to get to the wonderful Ionian Island? During the high season from May to October, charters from Moscow and St. Petersburg fly here. At other times, they fly to Greece (Zakynthos) with a transfer in the capital of the country. From Athens, you can also take a train or bus to Kyllini, and then transfer to the ferry.
What can you see in Zakynthos?
Most of the local sights are classified as natural, but there are also interesting architectural buildings. This includes the temple of Dionysius, built at the beginning of the 20th century. It was built with such care that it survived the 1953 earthquake, when most of the buildings were destroyed.
The three-nave temple is built in the Venetian style. Next to it is a 40-meter bell tower with an observation deck. The relics of St. Dionysius are kept in the temple, which you can venerate.
The Church of Nikolai Mol is located on Solomu Square. This is the oldest building in the area, built in 1561. During the earthquake, she was badly damaged, but the restoration did not radically change her appearance.
Another ancient attraction of Zakynthos (Greece) is the Monastery of the VirginAnafonitria is currently inactive, but it lets tourists into its walls. The church is interesting for its atypical appearance for Zakynthos: three-aisled basilicas and a wooden roof. A relic is kept inside - the icon of the Blessed Virgin, saved from the Turks.
Not far from the monastery is the village of Anafonitria, people come here to see the real, not touristy Zakynthos (Greece).
Zante Marine Reserve
The island's National Marine Park was opened in 1999 and is the only park of its kind in all of Greece. The main purpose of the existence of the reserve is to protect the beaches on which the carriage turtle lays its eggs. The museum at the park sets the task of environmental information for visitors.
The territory of the reserve includes a large number of coastal lands with a developed ecosystem, even populations of Mediterranean seals live here.
Because egg-laying turtles love peace and solitude, there are strict rules for tourists in the park. Staying here after sunset and lighted lanterns and bonfires is prohibited. It is strictly forbidden to litter and enter the beach by car or bicycle. It is forbidden to make noise, play with a ball or rackets in the reserve.
If you built sand castles on the beach, destroy them as you leave, as they can become an obstacle for turtles.
Beaches and coves of the island
The main we alth of Zakynthos (Greece) is wonderful beaches. The coastline stretched for 123 kilometers. Most visitedthe island's beach is called Shipwreck Beach or Navagio Bay. On the soft white sand, which tourists love so much, there is a ship of smugglers, thrown here during a storm. You can get to the beach only from the sea, it is best to rent a boat for this.
Gerakas beach is located in the southern part of Zakynthos. It is part of a marine reserve, which means that you can see the carriage turtle here. The warm turquoise sea and magnificent views attract many travelers here.
The beaches of the Tsivili resort are surrounded by vineyards and olive orchards. There is also a large number of bars, clubs and shops here.
There are no truly picturesque and wonderful beaches within the city. Therefore, tourists go to the places described above. But if you wish, you can visit the city beach. It is crowded, and the coating is sand and pebbles.
Which museums to visit on the island?
Museums can also be distinguished from the sights of the Ionian Island. The most interesting of them is the Byzantine Museum. Its exposition makes it possible to judge the development of Christian culture in Zakynthos. The audience is presented with a large collection of icons and frescoes, sculptures and paintings. The museum is especially proud of the carved iconostases of the 16th century. You can find the building in the capital of the island on Solomos Square.
The Straw and Kalvu Museum is located on St. Mark's Square. It is interesting for the manuscripts of the poets who lived here and their portraits. The ground floor even houses the remains of the creators whose names the museum is named after.
If you come tothe village of Pigadakya, you can get acquainted with the traditional life of the settlement on Zakynthos and agriculture. The agricultural museum contains furniture, utensils, agricultural equipment. Some exhibits date back to the 16th century.
What excursions to go on from Zakynthos?
No matter how beautiful the island of Zakynthos in Greece (photo in the article), some tourists want to see as much as possible. For such travelers, trips from the island are organized. Read about the best of them now.
Taking a comfortable ferry in the port of Zakynthos, you can find yourself in the port of Kyllini. From here it is easy to get to Ancient Olympia - it was here that the legendary ancient Olympic Games were held. Here you can see the Temple of Zeus, where one of the wonders of the world used to be (the statue of Golden Zeus).
The ferry in Agios Nikolaos will take the tourist to Kefalonia. This largest of the Ionian Islands is famous for its unique caves, comfortable beaches and the Enos mountain range with interesting flora and fauna.
Active tourists who want to fit as much as possible into their vacation can organize a trip to Athens. It will take longer, but no doubt it will be interesting. It is better to set aside a few days for a trip to Athens and go there as part of a Russian-speaking group.
Local cuisine: what will surprise you?
Kitchen in Zakynthos, as in all the Ionian islands, is Mediterranean. It follows that no local dish is complete without olive oil. In Zakynthos, it is very fragrant, because there are so many olive groves around! Be sure to bring home a bottle of Mediterraneanoils.
The dishes also use a lot of tomatoes, garlic, fragrant herbs and lemons. Try the local traditional Sarca dish, which is beef cooked with tomatoes, garlic and sheep's cheese. Skordostubi includes tomatoes, eggplants and seasoned with olive oil and garlic. Be sure to order local bread as well, it is very tasty.
Love on the island and sweets. The most popular of these is mandalato, a mixture of eggs, almonds and honey. Pastels made of honey, sesame and almonds are also worth trying. You can buy mizithra cheese (s alted or unleavened) with you. Eat it with honey or sugar.
Popular hotels of Zakynthos (Greece)
There are a lot of hotels on the island, but you should think about booking in advance just in case. Below we will talk about the popular hotels of Zakynthos.
- Palatino Hotel is located in Zakynthos Town, near the center. Elegant rooms with views of the sea or mountains, a bar, a restaurant are available to guests. According to the reviews of tourists, the hotel is amazing. Breakfasts are plentiful (lunches and dinners can be taken for a fee), and the staff is polite.
- Diana Hotel has a gym, sauna and rooftop pool. Reviews of tourists Zakynthos (Greece) about this hotel stop at the mark "Very good".
- The Plaza Hotel enjoys a great location right in front of Agia Triada Beach. This pleases tourists stopping here, because you just have to cross the road and you are on the beach! Tourists rate "Awesome".
Whatever hotel you choose, rest onthe island of Zakynthos will be magnificent. This heavenly place is simply created for a serene pastime and bliss.
