Ionian Islands Vacation Article

Ionian Islands Vacation

When in the Ionian Islands, you will be sure to enjoy a lot of good sailing and these groups of islands that are close to the western parts of Greece are perfectly situated near to the Ionian Sea by the coasts of Peloponnesus and Epirus. The main islands that make up the Ionian Islands include Paxos, Ithaca, Cythera, Zacynthus, Lefkas and Cephaonia as also Corfu.

These islands were first inhabited by the Ancient Greeks and it is supposed they came here around the ninth and tenth century Before Christ. Later, many western civilizations came here and conquered the islands including the Romans, Byzantines, and also the Venetians. It was then acquired by the Greeks since 1864 who claimed the islands as their own.

The Ionian Islands are also better known as Eptanisa or the Seven Islands and they have a mild climate and some excellent ports, which has made them the most frequented yacht charter destination of the eastern coast of the Mediterranean Sea. Here, you will not be surprised to see many gullet motorsailers, flotillas, yachts as also bareboats. These islands make an ideal holiday destination that would especially be suited for bringing your children on a holiday who will love the calm seas and the gentle windy conditions. It also makes for an ideal place where to pick up sailing skills.

You can also go trekking in the mountains of Lefkas and the beaches that are filled with golden sands and are being constantly bombarded by huge waves that make for a very pretty picture indeed. Of special interest, are the beaches known as Perigali, Nidri and also Nikiana. There is little doubt that if sailing is what you really are looking for, then the Ionian Islands is the place to visit, where you will also be able to enjoy the beautiful scenery and also get to see some fascinating ancient historical places of interest.

The island of great beauty that you must visit is the one known as Corfu or the island of cantadas (an Ionian Island traditional love song) which according to Greek mythology is the name of the daughter of the river god named Asopos. Another of the equally impressive Ionian Islands is the one the Greeks call Zante which is the most southerly of these islands and which has a varied landscape highlighted by some striking mountains and which is also very less inhabited. It is also notable for its colorful flowers that apparently blossom throughout the year.

A very popular summer resort is Lefcas, or as the Greeks calls it - Lefkada. Here you will find something for everyone with young adults able to party away the nights, windsurfers relishing the huge waves and there are also quite places ideal for relaxing and there is also a lot to see here.

The second smallest island in the Ionian Islands is Ithaca, which is barely twenty-nine kilometers long and six and a half kilometers wide though the coast is about hundred kilometers. It owes its name to the son of a Kefalonian king named Ithacis and is an island well worth a visit.