Ionian Islands
are also known as Eptanissa, (derived from the word "epta"
= seven) in other words, the Seven Islands.
Each island retains a strong
personality: Corfu (or Kerkyra) is an international resort gifted with green landscape
and excellent beaches. Kythera, with the breathtakingly village above the port
Kapsalli, still retains its unspoiled style. Kefalonia has a dramatic
mountaineous scenery with beautiful beaches, while its neighbor Ithaca
- Odysseus' island - has a jagged indented coast.
Zakynthos (Zante)
is the flower of the East (as it was called by the Venetians) and Lefkas
with the white cliffs has excellent sandy beaches, one of them to
be windsurfers paradise. Meganissi is a tiny spectacular and unspoiled island.
Paxi is like an olive groove and Antipaxi has
fine sandy beaches. There are also numerous other small islands, Erikousa, Kalamos, Strofades,
Elafonissi, Othoni reached from the largest islands by boat.
Ionian islands have wetter autumns and winter than Aegean islands.
Summer can be hotter than the Aegean, since here there is no meltemi -the winds from the north.
Corfu, Kefalonia and Zakynthos have international airports with charter flights
from European cities, while there is four times a week flight connection between Athens and Kythera.
Ferries connect the islands with mainland Greece (Parga, Igoumenitsa, Astakos, Killini) and Italy.
Lefkas island is served by Preveza's International Airport - Lefkas is connected by road to Mainland Greece.
