Greece - Ionian Islands
The Greek islands are traditionally grouped into the following clusters: The Argo-Saronic Islands in the Saronic gulf near Athens, the Cyclades, a large but dense collection occupying the central part of the Aegean Sea, the North Aegean islands, a loose grouping off the west coast of Turkey, the Dodecanese, another loose collection in the southeast between Crete and Turkey, the Sporades, a small tight group off the coast of Euboea, and the Ionian Islands, located to the west of the mainland in the Ionian Sea.
The Ionian Islands are a group of beautiful islands in Greece. They are traditionally called the Heptanese, i.e. "the Seven Islands", but the group includes many smaller islands as well as the seven principal ones. The seven are, from north to south:
- Kerkyra usually known as Corfu
- Paxi also known as Paxos
- Lefkada also known as Lefkas
- Kefalonia often known as Kefalonia, Cephalonia
- Zakynthos sometimes known as Zante
- Kythira sometimes known as Cerigo
kerkyra ( Corfu) Island
Corfu is the second largest island in the group of Ionian Islands, after Kefalonia and was the first to open itself up to tourism with plenty to offer its visitorsThe island of Corfu has been described as the Emerald Isle, the Garden of Eden and by Homer himself, a beautiful and rich land all this is due to the lush green hills, towering mountains, clear blue seas, pure white sands, endless olive groves and colourful wild flower.
Paxi ( Paxos) Islands
Paxos is the smallest of the Ionian Islands.Paxos is covered in many olive groves with ancient gnarled and twisted olive trees, some of them hundreds of years old, which shelter numerous species of wild flowers and small vineyards. This beautiful and unspoiled landscape is what makes a holiday to the island of Paxos truly memorable.
Lefkada ( Lefkas) Island
Lefcas, or Lefkada as the Greeks call it, is a very popular summer resort, where there is something for everyone. Young visitor’s party all night, windsurfers have some excellent spots, there are quiet places for those who just want to relax, and there is a lot to see. Beaches are beautiful and sandy here. The most bars and discos are in Nidri, and this is a paradise for people who really want to party.
Kefalonia ( Cephalonia) Island
Cephalonia the largest of the seven Ioanian islands. Is an island as attractive to walkers as it is to sunbathers. For the walker there are acres of inland forest covered mountains to explorem . and some very interesting places like old castles.For sun bathers there are plenty on beaches (many of them among the most beautiful in the Mediterranean. Is one of Greece's best secrets and once voted 10th in a world scenic beauty league, thus it demands and deserves exploration.
Zakynthos ( Zante) Island
Zakynthos is a beautiful island and is the most southerly of the Ionian Islands and has a varied landscape: the west is characterised by striking mountain scenery and is largely uninhabited and the east is packed with fertile plains, picturesque bays and long sandy beautiful beaches.
Kythira ( Cerigo) Island
Kythira, known as the island of Aphrodite where the most beautiful goddess of Olympus was born. The island was dominated by the Spartans, the Athenians and the Macedonians and later the Russians. The name of the island comes from the Kythiro, the leader of the Phoenicians who were the first people to live on the island.
Labels: Greece-Ionian Islands
