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| Ionian islands |
| Green heavens |
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| The Liston area of Corfu Town. |
The six Ionian islands are considered by many as the most genteel region of Greece, both in natural beauty and in culture.
The Ionians came under Venetian rule around the time of the Fourth Crusade, in the early 14th century, and they were never occupied by the Ottoman Empire. The Napoleonic armies and the British Empire left their mark, before the islands were given to Greece, in the 1860s, as a gift.
The islands look the exact opposite of their Cycladic brethren. They are covered with pine forests and olive groves, and the sea water is always warm. The local cuisines are meat-based and the local wines have strong and sweet tastes.
Corfu, or Kerkyra, is the most cosmopolitan of the six. The island has been fortunate to not have been affected by any of the major earthquakes, caused by the Ionian Sea seismic fault, that have rocked the other islands in the last few centuries. Thus it maintains its Venetian charm, augmented by the influences of the brief French occupation in the early 19th century and the British rule that followed it.
Cefalonia, the largest of the Ionian islands, is dominated by its mountains. The island came to prominence in the last few years with the filming of de Berniere's book "Captain Corelli's Mandolin", starring Nicholas Cage and Penelope Cruz. Before Hollywood turned its spotlight on it, Cefalonia was a sleeping beauty among Greek islands, with few accommodations and little exposure. Nowadays, the likes of Madonna, Steven Spielberg, and Tom Cruise can be glimpsed diving in its azur waters from their luxury mega yachts every summer.
Zakynthos, the southernmost of the Ionians, was the favorite of their Venetian rulers. Zante, as it is also known, has the best beaches in the archipelago and its capital, Zakynthos Town, boasts the largest natural harbor, right under a steep hill, on which Dionysios Solomos, the country's national poet, wrote the Greek National Athem, the Hymn to Freedom. |
| The Highlights |
- Beautiful Corfu Town.
- The luxury villas-dominated northern region of Corfu.
- The northern and eastern parts of Cefalonia, and especially Fiskardo and Myrtos beach.
- The beaches, the local cuisine, and the music of Zakynthos.
- The quiet hideaways of Paxos and Ithaca.
- The west coast of Lefkada.
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| We Recommend |
- Stay in Corfu town, rent a car, and visit the whole island.
- See the museums and the historical sites of Corfu.
- In Zakynthos, visit the Shipwreck, the Blue Caves, eat at the Arekies tavern in Zakynthos town, and visit the museums.
- Stay outside Fiskardo, rent a car, and see the whole of Cefalonia, especially the mountain region.
- Stay in a villa in Corfu and Zakynthos.
- Stay in Nikiana or Nydri and drive down the west coast of Lefkada and the mountain villages.
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| We Do Not Recommend |
- Fiskardo in August.
- Zakynthos in August.
- The beach resort towns of Corfu and Zakynthos.
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| Stay, do, see |
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The Hotels [331] |
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Sightseeing in Corfu, Paxos, Lefkada, Cefalonia, Ithaca, Zakynthos
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The Beaches in Corfu, Paxos, Lefkada, Cefalonia, Ithaca, Zakynthos
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| Useful Information |
| The country code for Greece is 0030 (from the US and Canada: 01130). |
| Tourist Info Office |
| The tourist info offices are usually run by the Greek National Tourism Organization (EOT) and are located at the harbor or near the police station of each island's capital town. |
| Police Station |
| There are police stations in every major and secondary town, usually at the central square or on main street. For emergencies, dial 100. |
| Hospital |
| There are hospitals in the larger islands and medical centers in the smaller ones. For emergencies there is helicopter service, operated by the National Health System, that transfers patients to major medical centers. |
| Pharmacy |
| Every island has pharmacies. Business hours are Monday through Friday 8 am to 2 pm. During off hours ask the front desk of your hotel for assistance. |
| Foreign Press Outlet |
| In the larger, tourist islands, there are foreign press newstands everywhere. In the smaller islands, foreign press is handled by the general press agency that is usually located near the center of the capital town. |
| Internet Cafe |
| These days there seem to be Internet cafes everywhere, and certainly in all major towns and some secondary ones. Many travel agencies offer Internet access, and not only to their clients. |
| Car Rental |
| All hotel front desks and all travel agencies will arrange for a car rental to be delivered to you, and will provide information on available options. Most of the international car rental companies (Avis, Hertz, etc) operate on the larger islands. |
| Bank |
| The larger islands, like Corfu, Cefalonia, Lefkada and Zakynthos have many banks. All the small islands feature at least one branch of a major Greek bank, like Narional, Alpha, and Commercial. They handle all major transactions, such as money transfers, cash advances on credit cards, and money wires. Banking hours are Monday through Thursday 8am-2pm and Friday 8 am-2.30 pm. ATMs are ubiquitous, including the lobbies of many major hotels, in the larger islands. |
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