Page 82 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Greek Islands

16
ZÁKYNTHOS

ΖΆΚΥΝΘΟΣ

g Zákynthos town; Ágios Nikólaos @ Zákynthos town
EXPERIENCE The Ionian Islands mountain villages, monasteries, sandy beaches and
n Lomvardou St, Zákynthos town; www.zanteisland.com
Lush and green Zákynthos is ripe for exploration, with
beautiful views around nearly every corner – like that
of stunning and often-photographed Shipwreck Bay.

Museum, which contains the
1
tomb of the poet Dionysios
Zákynthos Town
Completely destroyed in the
museum in Corfu town is
1953 earthquake that hit the
found in his old house (p67).
Ionian islands, Zákynthos Solomos (1798–1857). A beaches. At the peninsula’s
south western tip, Yérakas
town has now been rebuilt, Byzantine Museum beach is a breeding ground for
with efforts to recapture its " § 26950 42714 # Apr– the loggerhead turtle and
former grace. Arcaded streets Oct: 8:30am–3pm Tue–Sat; home to a Marine Life Centre.
run parallel to the waterfront, Nov–Mar: call for times
where fishing boats arrive ¢ Main public hols
each morning. Further down 4
the waterfront the ferry boats
dock alongside Mediterranean 2 Shipwreck Bay
cruise ships. ⌂ 30 km (19 miles) NW of
At the southern end of the Laganás Zákynthos town
harbour is the church of Ágios ⌂ 9 km (5 miles) SW of
Dionysios, the island’s patron Zákynthos town On the northwest coast is
saint (1547–1622). The church, Shipwreck Bay, aka Navágio
which houses the body of St The growth of tourism on Bay (p02), one of the most
Dionysios in a silver coffin, was Zákynthos has been heavily photographed beaches in Kefaloniá Bari,
built in 1925 and survived the concentrated in Laganás and Greece for its sheer limestone Cape Skhinári Blue Bríndisi
earthquake. The Byzantine its 14-km (9-mile) sweep of cliffs and pristine blue waters. Korithi Caves
Museum houses a collection soft sand, where a large It’s named for the cargo ship Ágios Nikólaos Ionian
of icons and frescoes rescued number of bars and dance
from the island’s destroyed clubs ensure the nightlife Skinaria Mikro Nisi Sea
churches and monasteries. continues till dawn. The LOGGERHEAD Volímes
North of here is the Solomos unrestricted development TURTLES Shipwreck Bay Xygia Sea Cave Kylíni
here has decimated the The Mediterranean
population of loggerhead loggerhead turtle Anafonítria Alykés Amoudi
turtles that nests on the (Caretta caretta) has
beaches, and efforts are now been migrating from Katastári Kypseli Plános
being made to protect them. Africa to Laganás Bay, Pórto Vrómi Maries Tsiliví
Visitors can take trips out into its principal nesting site, Agios Kalipado Cape Kryonéri
the bay in glass-bottomed for millions of years. Exo Hora Loúha Dimitrios Vanato Kryonéri
boats to see the turtles. These giant sea crea­ Kambí Agios Pantes Bochali Zákynthos Town
tures lay their eggs in Argási
the sand, reputedly Agios Leontas Maherádo Ambelokipoi Zakynthos
3 the softest in Greece, Koiliomeno Romiri International Airport
at night. With mass
Kaminia
VasilikÓs Peninsula tourism taking its toll, Limnionas Kalamáki Banana
Beach
environmentalists have Pantokratoras
⌂ 15 km (9 miles) SE of managed to secure Zákynthos Lithakia Laganás Vasilikós
Zákynthos town Agalás Gulf of Peninsula Vasilikós
some protection for the Yérakas
Enjoying an alfresco South of Zákynthos town, the turtles, with stretches Límni Kerioú Laganás Beach
dinner with views over vertiginous Vasilikós Peninsula of beach now off­limits. Beach
Zákynthos’s waterfront is punctuated by excellent Marathias
0 kilometres 6 N Keri Caves Keri
82 0 miles 6

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