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All you need to know before you go! |
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Welcome to Zante |
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Not surprising to see why its still number one in our Zante top 10! |
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Here are 10 of the most popular places to visit with visitors to the island 1. Smuggler’s Cove If there’s one must see on Zante, it’s Smugglers Cove. It’s certainly the most photographed sight on the island – and arguably the most photogenic. The story goes that in 1983, a coaster carrying contraband cigarettes smashed into rocks off the island’s west coast. Fatally holed, the ship was swept ashore. It couldn’t have found a more beautiful resting place - a pristine cove of pale sand, framed by towering cliffs. And there it lies, twenty years on, half buried in the sand. Take a boat trip just to the cove or see it on a round-the-island cruise.
2. The Blue Grotto This is a top tip in more ways than one. Right at the top of the island at the tip of the little peninsula, the Blue Grotto is a cove made up of fascinating rock formations. Think of it as an unfinished artwork sculpted by the sea. And what a sea. Impossibly blue. Crystal clear. Mirroring the vault of the sky. Just beautiful.
3. Zante Town In 1953, the island’s capital was totally destroyed by an earthquake. But like a phoenix rising from the ashes, it’s been totally rebuilt with considerable effort to recapture its former glory. Pretty arcaded streets run alongside the waterfront, where cutesy little fishing boots drop anchor each morning and bring ashore their catch. Down at the southern end of the harbour, you’ll find the church of Aghios Dionysios - the resting place of Zante's patron saint. Remarkably, and some say miraculously, the church was one of the few buildings that survived the 1953 earthquake.
4. Yerakas The super-soft sands of Yerakas make it a magnet for beach-lovers - but not just the human kind. The protected Mediterranean green loggerhead turtles nest here, their tiny youngsters waiting for moonlight to make their first wobbly walk across the sands towards the silvery sheen of the sea. For the full lowdown on the turtles, check out the open-air information centre that’s here.
5. Temple of Artemis A romantic ruin in the centre of the island, this could be the focus of a walk in the hills. Pack a picnic of crusty bread, graviera cheese, olives, tomatoes and juicy fruit. Drive to the sleepy village of Aghios Dimitrios. Park up. And leave the real world behind. Your stroll will take you through sweet-smelling pine forests to green and gorgeous valley views and the remnants of the ancient temple. Perfectly peaceful, you’ll probably hear nothing louder than the chirruping cicada soundtrack. Idyllic.
6. Marathonissi Island If you’re staying near Lithakia, you can see this gorgeous little islet as you float on your lilo. But it’s much better in close-up. Anchored offshore in Laganas Bay, it’s an uninhabited paradise of silky soft sands, lush greenery and intriguingly shaped rocks hewn by wind and water. Only a short sail away, this is one slice of paradise you won’t want to miss.
7. Jeep Safari Want to get to grips with inland Zante? Only a sturdy 4x4 is man enough for this sort of exploration. So sign up for a jeep safari and dip down dirt tracks you’d never find for yourself as a driver-come-guide takes you to places only the locals know. They normally head for the hills in the heart of the island so you can discover hidden hamlets where time seems to stand still. Find tiny tavernas and terrific views - and get a feel for ‘the real Greece’.
8. Kambi Sunsets The best things in life really are free. And that’s certainly the case here. Greeks and visitors alike head for the tiny hamlet of Kambi to watch the glorious sunsets. As the fiery sphere slips into the sea for another day, you almost expect the water to sizzle and steam to rise. It’s such a special moment that there’s often a ripple of applause from spectators at their cliff-top taverna tables.
9. Scuba Diving Save a day for Vassilikos. While landlubbers take a walk in the woods or toast themselves on the sands, divers put more than a toe in the water, getting up-close and personal with nature’s sub-mariners. The island’s eastern ‘lobster claw’ peninsula juts into crystal clear seas and offers up ideal conditions for an introduction to scuba.
10. Kefalonia Hop on a ferry from Zante port and sail to the sister island Kefalonia. Captain Corelli’s isle is home to one of the best Greek wineries – Robola. Come here in August and you could catch the Wine Festival in Fragata or the International Music Festival of the port town, Argostoli.
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