Zakynthos (Zante) is a flowery island with fertile valleys and a thoroughly diverse landscape. The Venetians, rulers of the island for an interval of three centuries, called it “Fior di Levante” (standing for “flower of the East”), thanks to the thousands (over 7,000) of different species of flowers growing on the island. Zakynthos (Zante) is the third biggest island of the Ionian Sea, after Corfu and Kefallonia.
As it is legendarily believed, Zakynthos is named after the son of Dardanus, who ruled the kingdom of Frigia, and it was he who built the first city there. The island is also mentioned in Homer’s Iliad.
The town is overlooked by the Venetian fortress on the hill above, and although only the outer walls, the gate and the battlements still remain, the view visitors can enjoy from there is simply stunning, as it includes the port, the beaches and the verdant inland as far as the eye can see. Lofos Strani is another nearby hill, where Dionysios Solomos, the father of Greek poetry, composed the renowned Hymn to Liberty that later became the Greek national anthem.
The Venetian element is still present in the architecture of the island. As you walk across the flag-stoned coastal promenade, Strata Marina, you will capture the distinctive aura of the island.
Pine-covered mountains and hills, rich valleys filled with currant vines, olive and almond trees, flowers of every kind emanating a captivating scent in the air, complement the striking natural landscape of the island. Tranquil villages, centuries-old churches and monasteries add to the unique atmosphere of the island.
Explore the coastline and discover sandy beaches in remote coves with deep-blue waters, rough cliffs and an intriguing underwater world. Beaches such as the renowned Laganas, Vassilikos and Gerakas invite you to dive into the Greek summer, while in Skinari, where the well-known Blue Caves are found, present us with a superb setting in which the reflection of the sunrays on the water results in an astonishing range of silver and blue shades.
Our villas in Zakynthos (Zante) provide superb villa holidays on one of the most scenic and picturesque islands of Greece. With their distinctive personalities, their striking architecture, their privacy and luxuriousness, they invite you to experience a once-in-a-lifetime villa vacation in Greece.