Sights

The tiny island of Kastos can’t give you hundreds of sightseeing spots or tourist infrastructure, but it can still bring you joy. Its most frequent visitors are yachtsmen. In the high season, from May to September, the population of Kastos grows dramatically. The recreational options are pretty standard: strolling through the olive groves, touring ancient ruins, fishing and swimming at the local beaches.

Kefalonia is the largest of the Ionian Islands. According to one theory, its name derives from that of the mythological hero Kephala, a fearless hunter captured by the Goddess of the Dawn, Eos. Nature and history have been equally generous to the island resulting in magnificent beaches, lush green valleys, colorful villages with their centuries-long traditions, and splendid churches, temples, and castles. Kefalonia’s main attractions are as follows: the lake at Melissani Cave, the archaeological museum in Argostoli, the Monastery of St. Gerasimus of Kefalonia near Valsamati, the beautifully-preserved Venetian settlement in the village of Fiskardo, and the Manzavinos winery near Lixouri. The island’s most famous and popular beach is Myrtos; it’s earned the Blue Flag, an article in Forbes, and has dazzling seawater that swirls all shades of blue. No less popular is Xi beach with its strikingly deep orange sand and brilliant white cliffs.

The village of Nydri, located on the eastern coast of the island of Lefkada, is a large and sought-after tourist center of Greece. The village earned its popularity thanks to its entrancing view of the nearby islands Skorpios and Madouri, as well as its local waterfalls – the most popular of which is Dimossari. Nydri is also the sailing center for the whole island; its shoreline is always dotted with numerous mooring yachts, and it’s the scene of the Ionian regatta at the end of September.

Spoiled with the attention of tourists and a wealth of natural beauty, Zakynthos boasts yet another special attraction. On the island’s northern coast, 35 kilometers from capital-city Zakynthos, lie the Blue Caves – a unique natural grotto that’s partially filled with water and only accessible by sea. The penetrating rays of the sun are refracted and illuminate the cave in myriads of stunning flecks. The water here is startlingly clear, and the depth to the bottom reaches four meters. The Greeks recommend visiting the Blue Caves early in the morning or closer to sunset, when the interplay of light and water is particularly enchanting.

Navagio Cove is the record-holder for top rankings as one of the most beautiful beaches in the whole world. Tall cliffs surround the thin strip of shoreline dressed with fine sand and the shipwrecked MV Panagiotis. There’s no footpath down, and the Greeks organize lots of sea excursions here, so coming by yacht is the best way to visit the famous cove in solitude.

Alykes is a popular resort village on the northeastern coast of the island of Zakynthos. It doesn’t boast a rich history, since its early inhabitants preferred to settle further inland, fearful of pirate invasions. Now that this danger has passed, the village has started to develop in the tourist direction. The local beach may not be as picturesque as the one in Navagio bay, but it still has its popularity. The environs of Alykes even have a few sights of their own: the 16th-century monastery of St. John the Baptist, the Vertzagio ethnographic museum, and the church of St. Pantaleon.

The main island in the Ionians is Lefkada. There are several theories regarding the origin of its name. According to one, it derives from the name of Odysseus’ friend, Lefko. However, the more likely and widespread theory is that it is associated with the white cliffs of Cape Lefkatas, since “lefkos” is Greek for “white.” Its wide-open spaces, varied terrain, and land link to mainland Greece have made Lefkada one of the most popular tourist destinations in the whole country. It draws all types-- affluent yacht-owners, families with kids, young people, and water-sports enthusiasts. The island’s main resort towns are located in the east: Nikiana, Lygia, Pergiali, and Nidri. In the south you’ll find the local windsurfing center of Vasiliki, and the west side of Lefkada is known for its unbelievably-beautiful – and therefore most popular – local beach, Porto Katsiki. It is that natural beauty that serves as the island’s main attraction. Cultural heritage sites include several churches, the archaeological museum and picture gallery in the capital of Lefkada, the Apollo Temple in Lefkatas, and the four ancient grinding mills on Gyra beach.

It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say that Ithaca is one of the most famous of the Greek isles. The name is familiar to virtually everyone who’s ever heard of the works of the ancient Greek poet Homer, for Ithaca is the birthplace of the legendary hero king, Odysseus. But archaeologists hold differing opinions regarding his exact place of residence, with possible versions ranging from Alalcomenes to Stavros. Today’s attractions include an archaeological museum, a bust of Odysseus, the ruins of the ancient settlement of Pilikata, and numerous caves also mentioned in myths, such as Marmarospilia, the cave of nymphs. In 2010, the archaeologist Thanasis Papadopoulos announced that he had found the ruins of a three-story building in Ithaca Odysseus’ palace with a staircase set deep in a cliff. The palace is located not far from the village of Eksogi and forms part of the School of Homer archaeological park. The island’s present-day capital is Vathi. It spreads out along the shores of a convenient, welcoming cove and naturally began to attract the attention of yachtsmen. The venetians built this stunning city and left a distinct imprint on its architectural style. You’ll see it clearly in the charming two-story houses with tiled roofs and narrow balconies as they ring the cove like an amphitheater. All tourist life is centered in Vathi, with the rest of Ithaca left in tranquility and peace.

The only way to visit the uninhabited island of Atokos is by yacht. It’s the westernmost Ionian island and though privately owned by the shipping magnate Panayiotis Tsakos, it’s still open to visitors. Here, you can go diving or stop at one of the island’s many coves to spend a couple of hours at the beach. And if you find yourself deeply in love with the island, you could always buy Atokos yourself – the Tsakos family recently put it up for sale.

In the winter, Kalamos is home to no more than six hundred inhabitants, but in the summer that number swells to include bright-eyed tourists – proving that there’s still demand for Greece’s authentic and tranquil towns. In the sunny months, yachts sail in a steady stream into the port, and the island’s guests languidly dine on shoreline cafes. The main – and virtually only – attraction on Kalamos is its eponymous city on the east coast. Kalamos doesn’t have an infrastructure quite as developed as the neighbouring islands do, so if you wind up with more than a few hours to spend on Kalamos, you could make the side trip to the village of Kefali – or what’s left of it anyway. In 1953, an earthquake destroyed this Venetian settlement, once called Porto Leone. Only its church survived, which continues to function to this day.