Zante, one of the Ionian Islands, is a Mediterranean paradise offering an idyllic setting for a fantastic holiday.

The island offers breathtaking sunsets, impressive long sandy beaches and crystal waters. In the north-west of the island you will find pine covered mountains and hills preserving the beautiful quaint villages, and the traditional stone clad buildings. The centre of the island is lush with vineyards and olive groves, while the southeast lays claim to some of the most superb beaches.

The beaches are known for their natural, unspoiled beauty, with fine white volcanic sand and clear turquoise waters. You will find rugged natural beaches nestled in rocky formations and also pine-clad islets for total seculsion.

Built around the lively port of the island, is the charming capital, Zante (Zakynthos) Town. This quaint, pretty town is the hub of commerce and culture, offering an array of restaurants, cafes and nightclubs. Modern amenities are also a feature of this island, but Zante also has a long history steeped in tradition waiting to be discovered. Beautiful orthodox churches, archealogical sites and Venetian castle ruins can be found, as well as museums celebrating the Byzantine era and Greek literary works. Baroque and Renaissance architecture is also in abundance, and proudly maintained by the islands inhabitants.

Leisure pursuits include cycling, hiking, horseback riding and nature trails, all these activities offer a wonderful way to enjoy the islands changeable landscape.

Zante is the southernmost and third largest of the Ionian Islands, both in size and population. Its geographical position ensures easy travel to the numerous deserted islands that surround it, and to the mainland of Greece. With all it has to offer, it would be hard to resist the natural charms of Zante.

Places of Interest

Zante (Zakynthos) Town
Zante is located at the base of the hill of Bochali and it is at the same time, chief town and main port of the island. The island offers many historical sites such as the famous church of San Dionisio, where you will find relics of the saint. There are also numerous museums and the characteristic squares of D. Solomos and Saint Mark, Saint Mark dates back to the Venetian period. If you explore the narrow streets of the back of the city, you will find the ancient Venetian Castle located at the top of the hill of Strani. Here, you will also discover the tiny and silent alleys, the old houses with courtyards and pretty flowers, and the most enchanting landscape dominating the bay of the city.

Kiliomenos
Kiliomenos is a rural mountain village, sometimes known as Agios Nikolaos, after a beautiful old church of the same name located here. Some houses in the village date from the 16th century, after managing to survive the 1953 earthquake. The church has a separate bell tower dating from 1893 with fine detailed stone carvings. Kiliomenos is renowned for its stone architecture and many of the houses here have been built in the traditional Zakynthian way, using local stone from nearby quarries. This quaint village is only 16km from Zante Town and is easily reached by car. The area surrounding Kiliomenos is rich with vegetation, especially full of pine and cypress trees and numerous varieties of flowers, making it the deal sport for walks or even just drive through to enjoy the varied landscape.

Kastro
Kastro is a huge ruined Venetian fortress to the north of the town and the only historic site on the island. Sited on a bluff, which was a defensive enclave from Byzantine times onwards, there is a little of the original structure left but it is still a remarkable piece of stone engineering with stunning views in every direction. Three gates, the last bearing the lion of St Mark, guarded the town. Ruins of the churches still stand amid the pines, as do the remains of the keep.

The Vasillikos Penninsula
Vasillikos is a haven of natural beauty and tranquility, a beach lover's paradise. Combined with the green surroundings, the numerous magnificent popular beaches - each one with a different kind of beauty; it is easily accessible by car or foot. Vasillikos is more an area of a peninsula, rather than a self-contained destination as such, an exceptionally pretty part of the island featuring a number of sparsely inhabited villages. In addition to some beautiful and rugged countryside, the Vasillikos peninsula is full of olive groves, mountains and can boast some of the finest sandy beaches not only on the island, but also of the whole Ionian group. However, Vasillikos is well known because many of the extended white sand seashores are the nesting ground for the famous loggerhead turtle (Caretta-Caretta) that are protected by the National Marine Park of Zakynthos.

Blue Caves
Discovered in 1897, the blue caves can be found on the northern tip of Zante and famous for their stunning shade of blue seas and rock formations.  The Blue Caves are one of the most popular and advertised attractions of the island.  They consist of geological formations, giving life to a succession of caves along the North-West coast; their name is due to the particular reflections of the water in the caves.

Smugglers Cove or Shipwreck (Navagio)
Smugglers Cove is a must visit for any holidaymaker.  It is home to one of the most beautiful beaches in Zante and was made famous in the 1980's when a ship carrying contraband cigarettes was wrecked and washed on the beach during stormy weather, forming Smugglers Cove.  The sandy and pebbly beach is only accessible by boat and is probably one of most photographed beaches of all Greece.

Kilomenos (Agios Nikolaos)
Kilomenos also known as Agios Nikolaos is a rural mountain village. Some houses in the village date back to the 16th century after managing to survive the earthquake of 1953. This quaint village is only 16 kilometres from Zante Town. The area surrounding Kiliomenos is rich with vegetation and is full of pine and cypress trees and different varieties of colourful flowers making it an ideal place for walkers.

Porto Koukla
This traditional un-spoilt village is hidden amongst beautiful countryside on the south coast of the island. It is one of the most scenic areas and has a sandy beach shelving gently into the sea. There are tavernas serving Greek local cuisine.  There are beautiful views over to the island of Marathonisi where the famous loggerhead turtles come to nest.

Things To Do

Experience a Greek style barbeque at your villa
Our villas owners extend their renowed Greek hospitality to you and will arrange for you to enjoy at Greek barbeque in the comfort of your villa grounds. They will organize the food and drinks for you so you can really sample the Greek style of hospitality. For your arrival at the villa, they will leave you a 'welcome basket' with a bottle of locally produced olive oil, a bottle of local wine and local cheese (subject to seasonal availability).

Marine Park
The first National Marine Park established in Greece with the aim of protecting the endangered loggerhead turtles (Caretta Caretta.) Greece is the only European country where the loggerhead sea turtles rest, with Zante being the most important resting area. The turtles are all over the areas of the Park and every year they come back to the sandy beaches in the south of Zante to breed. In addition to turtles there are also seals, birds, tortoises, frogs, iguanas and dolphins.

Horse Trekking
The Zante Horse Trekking Centre is based near Laganas. You can enjoy a village, farm or beach trek with qualified and experienced British guides.

Scuba Diving
Discover the underwater world with PADI instructors from many different locations in Zante.

Jeep Safari
This is the best way to see a lot of the island in one day. You will get to visit small Greek villages, taste local products, swim in beautiful coves and visit the best view points. Enjoy a day with informative, yet entertaining tales enthusiastically recounted by the drivers.

Cookery courses
Love Greek food? Here's an opportunity to learn how to cook many of those delicious meals that you'll be enjoying at many of the local restaurants.  We can arrange for you to partake in a cookery course at the Alitzerini Restaurant and this will be a 2 day course (3 hours per day, in the morning). It will be fully hands only with all the ingrediants provided for you and will also include a wine and cheese tasting session too!  You'll be taking your prepared dishes back to your villa for your family and friends to try too.

We can also arrange a similar course in the gardens of the Aresti mountain village and this will be the preparation of Greek and Mediterranean dishes (mainly cold dishes) and again will include a tasting of local wine and cheese.

Prices are dependent on the amount of participants (subject to a minimum) and are available by contacting our reservations team.

Pottery courses
We can offer courses for both the beginner and the more experienced potter with the choice of any of the following three options...

• Firstly, enjoy a day's course to include 2 hours tuition and 2 hours practice or extend this per day.  Your best pieces will be bisque fired and can be taken away with you.
• Or, a slightly more detailed course discovering clay as a material and it's possibilities. This will include a 2½ hour lesson followed by 1 hour practice in the afternoon. This course will also include 'Raku' firing which is a 500 year old Japanese glazing technique.
• Or, for those that just want to have a dabble and is ideal fun for all the family, is the 'drop in' session which is an opportunity for those that have always wanted to have a go on a potters wheel. Two small pots will be made and bisque fired.

Courses are subject to a minimum and/or maximum party size. Prices available on request.

Helpful Info

Documents/Visas
If you are a EU citizen no visa or special papers are required. All citizens travelling to Greece will need a valid passport. For further information you can contact the Greek Embassy on 020 7221 6467 or visit their website - www.greekembassy.org.uk.

Health:
In Zante Town you will find the local hospital. Almost every town or village has their own pharmacy.

Money:
The currency in Greece is the euro. Most major credit cards can be used on the island and travellers cheques can be changed in the majority of banks and exchange bureaus.

Weather

The climate in Zante is mild Mediterranean with brilliant sunshine during the summer months. A fresh breeze often blows and the wind rises in the early afternoon from north to south.

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