Page 473 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Europe

THE GREEK ISLANDS  471

stunning scenery. Mount
Aínos and the Mount Aínos
National Park, in the south,
and the haunting, subterranean
Melissaní Cave-Lake are sights
not to be missed. Fiskárdo,
with its 18th-century Venetian
houses clustered by the harbor,
is Kefalloniá’s prettiest village.
From here ferries go to
Lefkáda; services to Ithaca
depart from Sámi or Póros.
Zákynthos
Vacation apartments at Fiskárdo on the island of Kefalloniá * 40,000. k 4 km (2.5 miles) S of
Zákynthos town. g Zákynthos town,
of the influx of tourists. Nearby of Austria (1837–98). After a tour Agios Nikólaos. @ Zákynthos town.
are the ruins of a 13th-century of the palace and its gardens, n Lomvárdou St, Zákynthos town
castle, and the church of visit the Vasilákis Tastery (26950-25428).
Kassiopítra, which occupies the opposite, and sample this local
site of a former temple of Zeus. distiller’s kumquat liqueur. Zákynthos is an attractive
The bustling vacation center and green island, with good
of Sidári is famous for its sandy P Achílleion Palace beaches and beautiful scenery
beaches and unusual rock 10 km (7 miles) SW of Corfu town. @ to be enjoyed.
formations, while picturesque Tel 26610-56210. Open daily. Zákynthos town is the point
Palaiokastrítsa has safe of arrival on the island. Here, the
swimming and water sports, Kefalloniá impressive church of Agios
as well as boat trips to nearby Dionysios, and the Byzantine
grottoes. Vacationers wanting * 35,000. k 9 km (6 miles) S of Museum, which houses a
a diversion from the busy Argostóli. g Argostóli, Fiskárdo. breathtaking array of frescoes,
resort atmosphere can visit @ Ioánnou Metaxá, Argostóli. n both deserve a visit.
the 17th-century monastery, Waterfront, Argostóli (26710-22248). The growth of tourism on
Moní Theotókou. Zákynthos has been heavily
Mount Pantokrátor, a short The largest island in the Ionians, concentrated in Laganás and
drive north of Corfu town, is Kefalloniá has a range of its 9 km (6 mile) sweep of
the highest point on Corfu, it attractions, from busy beach soft sand. The resort’s hectic
offers fine views over the resorts to areas of outstanding nightlife continues until dawn.
whole island, and across to natural beauty. Alternatively, visitors can head
the Epirot mainland. The capital, Argostóli, is a to the island’s north coast for
busy town located by a bay. the beach resorts of Tsiliví and
Southern Corfu Of interest are the Historical Alykés, the latter being especially
More varied than the north, and Folk Museum and the good for windsurfing. At the
southern Corfu offers other Archaeological Museum. northernmost tip of the island
attractions apart from beaches. Around the island, the liveliest are the unusual and spectacular
Tranquil hillside villages, such as places are Lássi and the south- Blue Caves. The caves can be
Vátos and Pélekas, contrast coast resorts, but elsewhere visited by boat from below the
with busy resorts like Benítses, there are quiet villages and lighthouse at Cape Skinári.
offering a more traditional
image of Greece.
Among the more peaceful
spots in the south is the Korisíon
Lagoon, a 5 km (3 mile) stretch
of water, separated from the sea
by some of the most beautiful
dunes and beaches on Corfu.
The area provides a habitat
for many species of birds and
wild flowers.
A popular day trip from any
of Corfu’s resorts is to the
Achílleion Palace, built between
1890 and 1891 as a personal
retreat for the Empress Elizabeth The Blue Caves of Zákynthos at the northern tip of the island

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