Zakynthos or Zante is the third largest Greek island in the Ionian Sea. It has the shape of an arrowhead, with the "tip" (Cape Skinari) pointing northwest. The western half of the island is a mountainous plateau and the southwest coast consists mostly of steep cliffs. The eastern half is a densely populated fertile plain with long sandy beaches, interrupted with several isolated hills, notably Bochali which overlooks the city and the peninsula of Vasilikos in the northeast. The peninsulas of Vassilikos to the north and Marathia to the south enclose the wide and shallow bay of Laganas on the southeast part of the island.
In Greek mythology the island was said to be named after the son of the legendary Arcadian chief Dardanus, who along with his men were the first inhabitants of Zakynthos according to Homer's Iliad and Odyssey. The island's nickname is "the Flower of the Levant", bestowed upon it by the Venetians who were in possession of Zakynthos from 1484–1797. Having heavily been influenced by Italian culture which blends smoothly with its Greek heritage, Zakynthos has developed an incredible amalgamation of the two, giving the island a unique identity.
Zakynthos is one of the most beautiful Greek islands as the mild Mediterranean climate and plentiful winter rainfall endow the island with dense vegetation. Numerous natural "blue caves" are cut into cliffs around Cape Skinari, and accessible only by small boats. Keri, on the south of the island, is a mountain village with a lighthouse. The whole western shore from Keri to Skinari contains rock formations including arches. Northern and eastern shores feature numerous wide sandy beaches, which render Zakynthos a popular tourist destination during the summer months.
However, the most prominent landmark on the island (and one you shouldn't miss out on), is Navagio (Shipwreck Beach), an exposed cove, sometimes referred to as "Smugglers Cove", on the north coast. Navagio was originally known as Agios Georgios, but on 2 October 1980, a freightliner, the MV Panagiotis, ran aground in the waters around Zakynthos Island on the beach during stormy weather and bad visibility. Some rumors say the ship was smuggling contraband; however official sources did not confirm this. The ship was abandoned and still rests buried in the limestone gravel of the beach.
Zakynthos has an international airport served by charter flights from northern Europe. It can be reached from the Athens International Airport in less than an hour.
