Ionian Islands, Greece
Zakynthos - Kypseli
Sunshine Holidays welcomes you to Zakynthos, aka Zante, the southernmost of the Greek Ionian islands, which are spread along the west coast of Greece. There are seven main islands in the Ionian group - Corfu, Paxoi, Kefalonia, Zakynthos, Ithaki, Lefkada and Kythira - and the group is the only one not in the Aegean, and in many ways they are more reminiscent of their close neighbour, Italy.
As Homer remarks in the Iliad "All who came to the island fell under its spell".
For many years the island was under the influence of the Venetians, who called it Zante. The island was also known to the Venetians as Fiore di Levante, Flower of the Orient.
Dionysios Solomos, the celebrated Greek poet, who was born on the island and who wrote the Greek national anthem, was named after the island's patron saint.
No one who has been here can forget the emerald green of its sea, its pine-covered mountains, its musical people and their hospitality.
The centre is gentle and lush, richly planted with 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 fill every available space, filling the air with the scent that so enraptured visitors of old.
At Sunshine Holidays we concentrate on the village of Kypseli, approximately 12km north of the main town Zakynthos. Kypseli is the Greek word for beehive and the village is pure rural Greece with truly friendly and hospitable locals.
The endangered loggerhead turtle, known as Caretta-Caretta, comes ashore to lay its eggs between June and August in an area near Laganas and Kalamaki. Great care is taken not to disturb the sand on these beaches as this is one of the last breeding grounds of this majestic creature.
The Blue Caves at Skinari in the north of the island are a favourite trip, where the refraction of light on the mineral bedrock creates spectacular fluorescent blue colours in the water.
Consider island hopping to visit Kefalonia, the setting of Louis de Bernieres' popular book Captain Corelli's Mandolin.
| Month |
Average daily
hours of sun |
Average daily
temperature ° C |
| April |
7 |
19 |
| May |
9 |
23 |
| June |
11 |
28 |
| July |
13 |
31 |
| Aug |
12 |
31 |
| Sept |
9 |
28 |
| Oct |
6 |
23 |
|
|
