Travel guide – Zante
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Overview
The Ionian island of Zante (also called Zakynthos) has been colourfully billed as 'the green island of poetry, song and love', mainly because it was the home of Dionysios Solomos, who wrote the Greek national anthem, 'The Hymn to Liberty'. Arriving in Zante by ferry is certainly a poetic experience. The picturesque town curves around a bay dominated by a Venetian Fortress and the St Dennis Cathedral. Zante town is reminiscent of Venice with its historic St Mark's Square and Solomos Square, lined by reconstructed neoclassical buildings. The Solomos mausoleum is also a museum dedicated to the island's aristocracy of bygone days, while the Byzantine Museum sports splendid icons and frescoes salvaged from the island's beautiful medieval churches, destroyed in the massive earthquake of 1953. The main attraction for visitors, however, is the triangular shaped island's 57 miles (92km) of coastline, particularly on the eastern and southern flanks, which are blessed with beautiful bays. Favourites are the white sandy beaches of Lagana and Geraka, also renowned for being the nesting grounds of the Caretta-Caretta sea turtles. Inland the mountain villages lure holidaymakers away from the beach to sample some local hospitality, good food and wine and explore monasteries tucked away among the greenery. Tourism has become the main income earner for this popular resort island but the rapid development of infrastructure in recent years has not depleted its traditional charm. Zante remains pleasantly poetic.
Climate
Zante enjoys a typical Mediterranean climate with mild winters and warm summers. Summers are gently cooled by breezes, called "Meltemia". Zante experiences a fairly heavy rainfall during winter which, together with the fact that it has a number of underground springs, is what makes it greener and more fertile than many other Greek islands.
Health
There are no specific health risks in Greece, but visitors who plan to walk through forested areas are advised to consider vaccination against tick-borne encephalitis. Medical facilities in Greece vary; those in major cities are excellent but many of the islands are some distance from a decent hospital. Food and water are safe, but those visiting for short periods should consider sticking to bottled water. UK nationals are entitled to a refund on emergency hospital treatment under a reciprocal agreement between the UK and Greece, and a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) should be taken on holiday for this purpose. Despite this, all visitors are advised to take out medical insurance. Yellow fever vaccination certificates are required for those arriving from infected areas. Bird flu was detected in swans in northern Greece in February 2006, but stringent measures have been taken to contain the outbreak; no human infections have been reported. The risk to people is believed to be very low, but visitors are advised to avoid any contact with caged, wild or domestic birds, and to ensure that all poultry and egg dishes are well cooked as a precaution.
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