Yannis Divramis 
Zakynthos is a fine family holiday island, with safe sandy beaches, gentle seas and activities for children to enjoy. The long sandy beaches of the east and south, such as Tsilivi, Alykes, Laganas and Kalamaki, shelve gently into calm, shallow water, ideal for young children. Family attractions include a water park near Tsilivi, the Askos … Read more
Honey is a traditional product of Zakynthos, made by bees that gather nectar from the wild herbs, flowers and trees of the hills. The island’s rich flora, its thyme, wild herbs, pine and orange blossom, gives its honey a fine aroma and flavour, and thyme honey is especially prized. Beekeeping is an old rural craft, … Read more
Kiliomeno is a traditional stone village in the western hills of Zakynthos, one of the best preserved on the island. Unlike most of the island, whose old buildings were lost in the great earthquake of the twentieth century, Kiliomeno kept its old stone houses, giving it a rare traditional character. Its landmark is the church … Read more
Easter is the greatest religious festival of the year on Zakynthos, kept with deep devotion and distinctive local customs. Holy Week brings solemn church services, the mourning of Good Friday, and processions of the Epitaphios through the streets. On Holy Saturday morning comes a famous custom, when people throw clay pots from their balconies to … Read more
Zakynthos possesses a rich and distinctive musical tradition unlike the rest of Greece, shaped by the long rule of Venice. Its most famous form is the kantada, a serenade for groups of male voices singing in harmony, often with guitar and mandolin. This style is closer to Italian than to mainland Greek music. Groups of … Read more
The carnival of Zakynthos is one of the oldest and liveliest in Greece, rooted in the long rule of Venice over the island. Held in the weeks before Lent, in late winter, it fills the capital and the villages with masked revellers, parades, floats, music and dancing. Its most distinctive feature is a tradition of … Read more
The Strofades are a pair of small, low, remote islands situated in the open Ionian Sea, positioned far to the south of the main island of Zakynthos. These rugged outposts are renowned for their vast flocks of migratory birds resting during seasonal journeys across the water. The surrounding waters and islets constitute part of the … Read more
Lithakia is a traditional village in the south of the Ionian island of Zakynthos, set in the hills above Laganas Bay among vineyards and olive groves. It is one of the larger old villages of the south, with stone houses, churches, squares and tavernas, keeping a rural pace above the busy coast. The village overlooks … Read more
Porto Roxa is a rocky swimming cove on the west coast of Zakynthos, below the hill village of Agios Leon. Instead of sand it has flat rock ledges and platforms that run down to deep, clear turquoise water, with ladders and steps to help swimmers in and out. The water is exceptionally clear and good … Read more
The Helmis Natural History Museum operates as a private facility in the village of Gyri. It rests in the hills of the Ionian island of Zakynthos. This venue holds the main natural-history collection on the island. It gathers a large collection focusing on the nature and geology of the region. Displays span across the halls … Read more
Olive oil is a cornerstone of the land and cuisine of Zakynthos. Silvery olive groves cover the fertile central plain and climb the hills, and the olive has been grown here since ancient times. The oil pressed from the fruit is the foundation of the island’s cooking, poured over salads, greens, cheese and fish. The … Read more
Agios Leon is a traditional hill village on the west side of Zakynthos, set among vineyards, olive groves and rolling country above the sea cliffs. It takes its name from its church and keeps a quiet, rural pace, with village squares, tavernas and stone houses. The village is the gateway to some of the wildest … Read more