Zante Holiday - Attractions

Zante or Zakynthos is the third largest of Ionian Islands in terms of size and population. Zante, commonly called Zakynthos is spread over an area of 405 square kilometers and has a population of about 35.000 people. Zacinto is located 300 km west from Athens. Zante town is heart of Zakynthos with a bustling harbor and long mountain ranges. Zakynthos is surrounded by many small islands like St. John in front of Porto Vromi, Pelouzo and Marathonissi in the Lagana's Bay and the Strofades.

Zante is linked to the larger cities of Greece such as Patras, Olympia, Athens and Thesaloniki. St. John in front of Porto Vromi and the Strofades islands renowned for their natural beauty are about 27 nautical miles south of Zakynthos. Zakynthos is surrounded by golden beaches and rocky coast line amidst Mediterranean climate with mild winters with heavy rain falls and cool summers with brilliant sunshine.

The rich and thick vegetation of Zante compelled Omiros to call it Iliessa (full of woods) while Venetians called it Fior di Levante (Flower of the East). The warm water and cool summers make Zante an attractive hotspot for tourists from around the world. In the southern Zante you may come face to face with logger headed turtles.

Miles of sparkling shoreline, numerous museums, parks, churches and busy restaurants along with a gleaming port boasts make Zante add to the beauty of Zante. Byzantine Museum of Zakynthos located in Solomos Square is open daily from 8am to 3pm except on Mondays while Maritime Museum offers the best collection of Byzantine vessels along with myriad fragments of naval history from 1700 to the present day. Before 1953 earthquake, there were 350 churches around Zakynthos. The church of St Nicholas built in 1581 is the oldest building in Solomos Square . The church and monastery of Agios Dionysios, the saint of Zakynthos, is one of the most important religious places in Zante.

If you want to delve into the history of Zante then the Castle of Zakynthos is a place worth a watch. This Venetian Castle located on the Bochali hill was built in 1480 upon the ancient ruins of an acropolis. Bochali the highest point of Zante Town gives a marvelous view of the harbor. In summers you can sit up with an ice-cream to enjoy the view and later on local dishes, cheeses, cold meat cuts and semi-dry wine (mastelado) in dinner to complete Venetian feel. Once you are engulfed by its beauty everything seems different In Zante. You may just fall in love with the musical stories of tavernas and feel intoxication at the historic wineries. The world seems endless on a Zante holiday with so much for every one of us to explore.