The
road continues north to Volimes, the west coast's largest village
and a center of handicraft woven goods. Upper Volimes perches above on the
cliffs. There's a lookout platform, not for those with vertigo, that looks out over the Shipwreck Beach.
The coast roads heads
north
from Zakynthos Town passing the Kryoneri Fountain built by the
Venetians to water their currant and wine laden ships.
Shortly it turns west and several nice and less developed beaches are available: Tsilivi, Pianos, Tragaki, Ampoula, Pachiammos, Drossia, Pasarou, Ammoudi, Alikanas and finally breezy Alikies, which is popular with windsurfers.
Further to North is another group of beautiful beaches such as Makri Alou and Makri Gialo.
Just past is
the Port of Aghio Nokolaos and where you can board ferries to Kefallonia. This is a lovely area with
many strange natural rock formations and caves the most notable of which
is the Blue Grotto or Kianoun Cave almost at the nothern tip of the island. it is directly under the lighthouse on
Cape Skinari. It's known for it stunning clear blue water. You can catch a boat for the Grotto at Agios Nikolaos.
The famous and oft-photographed Shipwreck Beach is at the northwest tip of the island. The area can be very crowded when the cruise ships off load hundreds of visitors at a time. Get a small boat and visit the beach and the Blue Caves on the northeast in the same excursion.
Drinking and Dining Try the local nougat sweet, mandolato. The choices here range from traditional Greek fare to international cuisine of various sorts. Most eateries are in Aakynthos Town, Tsilivi and Ag. Nikolaos.
See our Greece hotels for a complete look at accommodations available on this island.
"I recognize you by the fierce edge of your sword; I recognize you by the look that measures the earth..." - Ode to Liberty - the opening stanza of the Greek National Anthem - which Dionysios Solomou of Zakynthos composed upon hearing of Lord Byron's death.
Like so many Greek islands, Zakynthos has had a succession of rulers: Athenians, Spartans, Macedonians, Romans, Byzantines, Venetians. Since 1864, Zakynthos has been a part of Greece.
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