Zakynthos (in Venetian times: Zante) is the southernmost island in the Ionian Sea. It is beautiful and very versatile. We spent three days there and in one day we rented a car to see more of the island.
The island is divided into two parts, so to speak: The south-east is intensively cultivated, wine, olives, potatoes, corn……, the landscape is flat, partly hilly, with wide valleys. The north-west is harsh, the coast is rugged, vertical cliffs plunge into the sea, interrupted by small bays with sandy beaches.
Perhaps the most famous: Navagio, the Shipwreck Bay. Here a freighter stranded 40 years ago, which allegedly smuggled Turkish cigarettes on behalf of the Italian Mafia. A spectacular sight, from above, almost vertically over the bay. There you can see why the colours of the Greeks are blue and white.
The landscape forms are impressive: as said before, vertical white cliffs, but then also loose-like weathering forms, also volcanic rock.
A special thing in the southwest: the protected area for the loggerhead turtles that lay their eggs here, the young turtles hurry to get past the tourists into the save water. There is indeed a protection zone, but it is a tourist hotspot that is a little bit like a Party-hotspot.
In the interior of the island there are pine groves, plateaus with tiny villages, where from olive wood carvings to rose liquor (really tastes like roses!) local products are offered.
Not to forget: several monasteries, at least 500 years old, the Greek Orthodox Church is present everywhere.
We were located in the lively city harbour, at the moment it is pleasant, there are, probably due to corona, not the otherwise feared tourist rushes there.
Zakynthos is a worthwhile destination, for most different interests and preferences.
