Zákynthos

Area of island: 406 sq. km/157 sq. mi

Altitude: 758m/2,487ft

Population: 30,000

Chief town: Zákynthos

Zákynthos (Italian Zante), one of the Ionian Islands, lies in the Ionian Sea only 16km/10mi off the west coast of the Peloponnese. The western half of the island is occupied by a karstic plateau rising to 758m/2,487ft, the eastern half by a fertile and intensively cultivated alluvial plain with a luxuriant growth of vegetation. With its beautiful scenery and good bathing beaches, Zákynthos is a very popular holiday island.

The island has been known since the time of Homer by the name it still bears, said to be derived from the wild hyacinth (Hyacinthus orientalis L.). Settled at an early period by Achaeans and Arcadians, it soon developed into a trading and seafaring town the influence of which extended as far as the Iberian peninsula, where it founded the colony of Zakantha, later known as Saguntum. In 455 B.C. the Athenian admiral Tolmides made the island a dependency of Athens. After the Peloponnesian War it became a member of the Attic maritime league. In 217 B.C. it was conquered by the Macedonians, in 191 B.C. by the Romans. After being devastated by the Vandals it was captured by the Normans, and later was ruled by Frankish dynasts. It was occupied by the Turks in 1479 but recovered two years later by the Venetians, who held it until 1797. Thereafter it shared the fortunes of the other Ionian Islands.

From its long period of association with Venice the island has preserved an Italian and Venetian stamp. It was the birthplace of the Italian poet Ugo Foscolo (1778-1827) and the Greek poets Dionysios Solomos (1798-1857), author of the Greek national anthem, and Andreas Kalvos (1792-1869).

As a result of the devastations suffered in the course of an eventful history and of severe earthquake damage (particularly in 1515 and 1953) Zákynthos has preserved few old buildings.

Airport 6km/4mi south of Zákynthos town. Daily flights from Athens and Kefallónia.

Ferry Kyllíni-Zákynthos, several times daily (one and a quarter hours).

The Feast of St Dionysios, the island's patron saint is celebrated on August 24.