Page 50 - (DK Eyewitness) Top 10 Travel Guide - Corfu & the Ionian Islands

48 ❯❯ The Top 10 of Everything

Natural Wonders

is particularly noted for its ancient
history. Archaeological finds from the
Upper Palaeolithic period, around
20,000 BC, indicate that this rock
shelter may have once been a site
where hunters gathered.
Lake Melissáni,
3
Kefalloniá
Fed by a system of caves (see pp30–31),
this under ground lake is a mix of sea
water and fresh water. The mineral
content gives the lake its deep blue
colour. It was named after the nymph
Melissáni when ancient artifacts
showing the god Pan and several
nymphs were discovered here.
4
Awesome interior of Drogkaráti Cave The Spring of Aretousa,
Ithaki
Drogkaráti Cave,
1 MAP J4 • S of Vathý, Ithaki
Kefalloniá
The Spring of Aretousa is believed to
This huge and enchanting cave, be the one described by Homer in
located at Sámi, is believed to be The Odyssey, where Odysseus met
more than a million years old. Its Eumaeus. Whether this is true or
interiors are covered in stalactites not, the ravine-side walk towards
and stalagmites. The Royal Balcony the spring is beautiful, if a little chal-
and the Chamber of Exaltation, lenging for anyone afraid of heights.
which boasts such superb acoustics
Blue Caves, Zákynthos
that it is now often used as a venue 5
for operatic performances, are two of Located at Cape Skinári on the
the particularly breathtaking features northernmost tip of Zákynthos, the
the cave has to offer (see p31). Blue Caves are a delightful sight –
the water between the arches of the
Grava Gardikiou, Corfu
2 caves appears to be a vivid bright
MAP C5 • Southwest coast,
blue when the sun shines in. Take a
Corfu boat from Agios Nikólaos village and
Of all the the cave formations found sail along the coastline for the best
across the Ionians, Grava Gardikiou views of the caves (see p97).
The Blue Caves of Zákynthos

048-049_Top_10_Corfu.indd 48 27/11/2017 17:31