There are more pine-covered mountains and
hills in the north, but the centre is gentle and lush, richly
planted with currant vines, olive trees, almonds and seasonal
vegetables. There are dozens of beaches to choose from, sandy
and sheltered with invitingly sparkling water. Flowers of every
kind till every available space, tilling the air with the scent
that so enraptured visitors of old.
With a sunny climate most of the year and
good roads to facilitate exploring, Zakinthos lends itself to
holidaymaking in spring and fall as well as summer. Soma of the
best known summer resorts are Argassi, Alikes, Planos, Tsilivi,
Vassilikos, Gerakas and Porto Roma, while Laganas is the most
famous of all. lts long beach and wide range of facilities
attract thousands of tourists from May through September. At
Laganas, Vassilikos and Gerakas, the endangered sea turtle
CarettaCaretta also comes to lay
her eggs.
Apart from its beaches, Zakinthos has many
other wonderful places to get to know. For example, there's the
village of Anafonitria, with its fascinating 15th century
monastery dedicated to the Virgin. And Maherado, with its two
14th century churches, the half-ruined Ypapanti and the
sumptuously decorated Agia Mavra. Or the mountain village of
Keri, where sooner or later everyone goes to admire the sunset
and the stupendous view of the sea caves below.
Heading north, don't miss Volimes
or Skinari at the tip of the island. Volimes has a wonderful
Venetian tower and lovely old churches with frescoes dating to
the 12th and 14th centuries, while Skinari
is where the famous Blue Caves are located. Inside the caves,
the refraction of the sun's rays on the water creates an
unbelievable array of blue and silver tones of a dreamlike
beauty.
Further south is the cave of Xingia, where there is a spring of
sulphurous water that bubbles up white, clouding the sea up to
500 metres from shore.
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