Greek Islands cruise: Discovering Zante

On a cruise through the Greek islands, you can explore one of the most beautiful islands of the so-called Ionian: Zante (also called Zakinthos). Zante was inhabited by Achaeans until it was taken by the Athenians in the 5th century BC, who were succeeded by Spartans, Macedonians, Romans and Byzantines. Venetians ruled it from 1484 to 1797, and Zante finally joined Greece in 1864. It is a green island with beautiful hilltop towns, monasteries, fertile plains, and beautiful landscapes.

Zante, a must-see on a cruise around the Greek islands

Zante capital was destroyed by an earthquake that devastated the Ionian islands in 1953. This capital was rebuilt to regain its old charm. The traditional streets with arcades (by columns or arcades) run parallel to the pier, where every morning the boats arrive with fresh fish. Below, the ferries dock alongside the large Mediterranean cruises.

At the southern end of the port is the imposing church of Agios Dionýsios (1547-1622), patron saint of the island. The temple, which keeps the body of Saint Dionysus in a silver coffin, was built in 1925 and survived the earthquake. The Byzantine Museum contains a model of the elegant Venetian city before the earthquake and also a collection of icons and frescoes rescued from the island's churches and monasteries.

To the north is the Salomos Museum, with the tomb of the poet Dionysios Solomos (1789-1857), author of the Greek national anthem. The collection illustrates the lives of other eminent sons of Zante.

Taking a short walk north, the Strani Hill offers magnificent views; but even better are those obtained from the Venetian kastro that dominates the city, whose collapsed walls hide the remains of several churches and abundant fauna and flora.

Zante is ideal to enjoy on a cruise around the Greek islands