• Day 1 Athens - Kea
(40 miles)
• Day 2 Kea - Tinos -
Myconos
(49 miles)
• Day 3 Myconos - Delos
- Paros
(28 miles)
• Day 4 Paros - Ios -
(27 miles)
• Day 5 Ios - Santorini
(22 miles)
• Day 6 Santorini - Sifnos
(51 miles)
• Day 7 Sifnos - Serifos
- Kithnos
(33 miles)
• Day 8 Kithnos - Athens
(50 miles)
EMBARKATION: ATHENS
DISEMBARKATION: ATHENS
PATRA is the largest city in the Peleponnese
and the third largest in Greece. The city and harbour are noisy and grubby
but lively. The wine from the region is excellent including the ubiquitous
"demestica" - a visit to the Achaia-Klauss wine factory is well worth
while. Historically the city has always been important as a commercial
centre and the western gateway to Greece.
ZAKINTHOS is the southernmost of the Heptanesoi. Like a bowl holding
something precious, the mountains of Zakinthos enclose the fertile central
plain. The Venetians called Zakinthos "the flower of the Levant". Until
its total destruction in the 1953 earthquake the towns consisted largely
of Venetian building. In the rebuilding of the island, a Venetian aura
has been retained - spacious boulevards, arcaded shops and imposing public
building. A museum houses some of the relics particularly some fine icons.
The island offers some spectacular scenery.
KEFALONIA
is the largest in area of the Ionian islands. The slopes on the eastern
side of the island are covered with pine forests that run down to the
sea. In ancient times Kefalonia formed part of the kingdom of Odysseus
and here at least archaeologists have been able to find evidence of the
ancient sites mentioned in Homer. The tombs at Krani are said to be the
best examples of Mycenean tombs in Greece. Kefalonia produces the excellent
Robola white and red wine and for those who like a rose, the Manzavino
is very good. The village of Poros is set in a spectacular position on
a strip of flat land between a precipitous gorge and the sea. The major
earthquake of 1953 effectively demolished every town on Cephalonia except
Fiskardho. The picturesque 19th century houses set amid green pine groves
remain pretty much original. The village is named after Robert Guiscard
(thus Guiscardo/Phiscardo/Fiscardho) a Norman adventurer who briefly ruled
these parts.
LEFKAS is an island only because of the canal which separates it
from the mainland. The island takes its name from a precipitous white
cliff called Leukatas, which is presumed to be Sappho's Leap and from
which Sappho of Lesvos, the famous lyric poetess of the 6th century B.C.
is supposed to have flung herself. The area is the setting for Hammond
Innes' novel "Lefkas Man".
PREVEZA is a commercial port surrounded by lush orchards and market
gardens. It is a likable working town with interesting shops and workshops
in the back streets. Three miles north of the town are the ruins of Nikopolis
built by Octavian to commemorate his victory over Antony in the Battle
of Actium. The ruins are well worth a visit: a large theatre, a villa
and the city walls are well preserved and a small museum houses an interesting
collection of artifacts.
MEGANISI lies immediately east of Lefkas. The strait between Meganisi
and Lefkas is one of the loveliest channels in the Ionian. The island
has several natural harbours and numerous enclosed bays fringed by olive
an cypress with clear blue water. The southwest coast is lined with caves,
the most famous being Papanicolis rumoured to be the hiding place of a
Greek submarine during the second World War. There is some good fishing
to be had around this part of the island.
ITHAKI, according to Homer is the island home of Odysseus. Archaeologists
can dispute whether or not this is so, but Homer still provides the best
description of the island. On the summit of a hill called Pelikata are
the ruins of a Bronze Age settlement which is generally accepted to be
the palace of Odysseus. The island has numerous coves and anchorages with
water that is so clear, that it is difficult to believe you're not going
to touch bottom.
SAMI is an alternative to Ag. Efimia for visiting the semi-underground
Lake Melissani and the Cave of Drogarati. The town itself is mostly new,
though now mellowing with the patina of a few years aging.
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