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| Country | Greece | ||
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| Capital | Corfu | ||
| Area | 2307 km² | ||
| Population | 206 470 (2011) | ||
| Horizon | UTC 2 | ||
Ionian Islands (Greek: Νήνιοι Νήσοι, ionii nisi) is an official region (Περιφέρεια, periphery, also translatable by "province") in Greece.
Understand
Eptanisa (Greek: Επτάνησα) is the traditional name of these islands located in the Ionian Sea. The meaning of the name is Seven Islands.
The seven islands are, of north to the south:
- Corfu (Κέρκυρα = Kerkyra)
- Pakso (=αξός = Paxos or Παξοί = Paxi)
- Lefkado (Λευκάδα = Lefkada)
- Itako (Ιθάκη = Ithaki)
- Cephalonia (Κεφαλλονιά = Kefallonia), the largest (734km²)
- Zakinto (Ζάκυνθος = Zakynthos)
- Kitero (=ηρα = Kythira) (not on the map)
In fact, in the middle of these islands, near Paxi, is the small island (5km²):
- Antipax (Αντίπαξος = Andipaxos or Αντίπαξοι = Andipaxi) (11 on the map)
so the true number is more than seven.
The official periphery (region or province) is called Ionian Islands (Νήνιοι Νήσοι, ionii nisi). From it was removed the island of Kythera, which is very far from the rest, and thus the number of islands is again seven, if Antipax replaces Kythera.
There are, however, additional islands, traditionally not counted. Southeast of Lefkada is Μεγανήσι (Meganisi) and Κάλαμος (Kalamos) (12 and 13 on the map), comparable to Pax (ca. 20km²), and Καστός (Castes, 14 on the map), 6km², slightly wider than Andipax. North of Corfu is Οθωνοί (Othoni, 10 on the map), about 10km², the westernmost place in all of Greece.
In addition there are very small islands, mostly <2 km², so really negligible.
The capital of the Ionian Islands is on the northernmost island: the town Corfu, eponymous as the island. Although it contains only about 30,000 inhabitants, it is also the largest city on these islands.
Geography
The Ionian Islands are located more or less along a line parallel to the west coast of Greece.
Four of them (Corfu, Lefkada, Cephalonia, Zakynthos) are quite large, although much smaller than Crete or Euboea: they are comparable to Minorca. The rest are narrower than 100km².
All are steep, with limestone mountain ranges or hills, several of which have formed already in Cretaceous and even in jury. The highest peak is in Kefalonia: Mount Αίνος (Enos), 1628m.
However, there are also small plains and lagoons. In Zakynthos it abounds gypsum stone, deposited on the limestone when the Mediterranean dried up almost completely, 6 million years ago.
History
Ethnic groups
Climate
Enter
Enire avie
There are airports in Corfu, Kefalonia and Zakynthos.
The airport of Predict is quite close to Lefkada.
Get on board
The normal way to reach the Ionian Islands is of course the sea. There are regular boat connections, often ferries, more common in summer, but usually available during all seasons.
Connections are mainly to Greece, but Corfu also has connections with Albania and Italy, Kefalonia and Zakynthos with Italy.
The main ports to reach the Ionian Islands (except Lefkada, which is accessible by car) are:
- to Corfu: Igumenico (Ηγουμενίτσα, Igoumenitsa), in northwestern Greece; Sarandë, in southern Albania; Otranto and Toast, in Apulia (Italy);
- al Pakso: Igumenico;
- al Itako: Astako (Αστακός, Astakos);
- to Cephalonia: Igumenic; Patraso (Πάτρα, Patra); Kilino (Κυλλήνη, Kyllini), the nearest place in the Peloponnese; Toast;
- to Zakynthos: Kilino.
Additionally, there are connections between the islands, between which most important they are:
- between Corfu and Otton;
- between Corfu and Pax;
- between Pax and Andipax;
- between Lefkada and Meganiso;
- between Lefkada and Kefalonia;
- between Cephalonia and Ithaca;
- between Cephalonia and Zakynthos.
Enter the bus
Get in the car
Lefkada is accessible by car by a bridge connecting it with the mainland.
All other islands are accessible only by boat (the largest also by air). There are many ferries, so you can easily take your car overseas (except to the smaller islets).
To move
Move on foot
Move by ship
Move by bus
Move by car
See
Natural curiosities
The Ionian Islands are rich in natural beauty.
It attracts a lot coasts, either sandy or rocky. Tourists flock to them, especially in the summer, to bathe, swim, rest in the sun, or explore the underwater bottoms.
But there are also other kinds of natural beauties. In the Ionian Islands there are two Greeks national parks:
- the Marine National Park of Zakynthos (Ε.Θ.Π.Ζ., Νικό Θαλάσσιο Πάρκο Ζακύνθου, Ethnic Thalassio Park Zakynthou), containing part of the sea south of Zakynthos and four very small islets; it is particularly famous for the large number (c. 1300) of sea turtle nests Caretta caretta; the official website is www.nmp-zak.org (available in English and Greek);
- the National Park of Monte Eno (Νικός Δρυμός Αίνου, Ethnikos Drymos Enu), in Cephalonia, around the highest part of Mount Eno (or Enoso); it was created in 1962 to protect Kefalonia's fir (Abies cephalonica), a particular species of fir, similar to the white fir, whose name comes precisely from that island (the tree can also be found in other mountains in Greece); the official website is aenosnationalpark.gr (in Greek).
Because the core of these islands is made of limestone, it can be found caves. Very famous is the cave Melissani in Cephalonia, which contains an underground lake. Also famous are the Blue Caves in Zakynthos (there are several), entrances by the sea.
Historical sights
The old city of Corfu is between the UNESCO World Heritage Sites. It dates mostly from the time when the island was ruled by Venice, but there are also traces of the Byzantine empire and buildings made later, mainly during the 19th century.
Fari
Communicate
Buy
Eat
Traditional foods
The traditional cuisine of the Ionian Islands is usually similar to the traditional cuisine of the rest of Greece.
In Corfu, however, there are also clear influences of Venetian cuisine. Traditional Corfu dishes of this kind are for example the sofrito and the pasticada.
