Greek Island Idylls

efkada isoneof themostbreathtakingGreek islandsand it is located in theheartof the Ionian sea,connectedwith themainlandbya small bridge.Beingeasilyaccessedbycarandboastingoneof themost wonderfulnatural landscapesand someof themost scenicbeaches,Lefkada Greece (or the“CaribbeanofGreece”,as it isalsoknownas) is theabsolutedream destination for thosewhoare intoexotic islands. Lefkada isGreek forwhite,and the island takes itsname from thebrilliantwhiteof the limestone rock.From thedramatic seacliffsandmagnificentbeachesof thewestcoast,across the rugged peaksof the interiormountainsanddown through fertile, stream-fedvalleys to thegentlereast coastwith itswoodedbaysandquietcreeks,Lefkada isperfect for leisurelyexploration. Likemanyplaces inGreece,Lefkadacombines thebeautyofnaturewithhistory, richcultureand naturalheritage.Charmingly traditional,discover timelessvillageswhereyoucan stillgeta powerful senseof theGreeceofdaysgoneby.Explore the rugged landscapesof imposing mountainsanddensepine forests thatcombineharmoniouslywithpicturesquebays,pristine sandybeachesandcrystalclear turquoisewater. L Naxos Paros Antiparos RHODES Lindos Lardos Ixia Lachania Gennadi Q Faliraki Rhodes ncehome to the ColossusofRhodes, oneof theSeven Wondersof theAncientWorld, thisGreek Island is steeped in history.Today,Rhodes is justas celebrated for its idyllicbeaches, livelynightlifeand family-friendly resorts. Despitebeingapopular summerbeach destination, there is somuchmore toRhodes than its300-plusdaysof sunshineand long, sandybeaches.TheUnescoWorldHeritage- listedcapital isEurope’soldestcontinuously inhabitedmedieval townandworthavisit in itsown right.TheKnightsof theOrderofSt John, theOttomansandMussolini’s facists haveallpassed through, leavingan indelible mark.History-loversflock to themajestic AcropolisofLindosand itsCycladic-style villageofLindos.Adventureaficionadoshead to theverdant interior forhikingand mountainbiking,and south toPrasonisi for kiteandwindsurfing. Thenorthernhalfof the island is themost developed tourism-wiseandwheremost hotelsare located, includingmultipleall- inclusiveoptions.New,high-end resortsare slowlyunfoldingalong the south-eastern coast.Thewind-whippedwestern side is whereyou’llfind serene,umbrella-free beachesamida landscapeofdramatic mountains, low shrubsandcastle ruins. O Kadagan /Shutterstock.com Thira Kamari Imerovigli Monolithos Q Koloympos Oia Akrotiri Megalochori Santorini antorini,known sinceancient timesasThira, isoneof the most famous islands in the world.The fact thatyoucan sit in front of thecaldera,enjoy localdishes,a drinkoracoffeewhilegazingat the remarkablebeautyofanactivevolcano ispriceless! The island isactuallyagroupof islandsconsistingof Thira,Thirassia,Aspronissi,PaleaandNeaKameni in the southernmostpartof theCyclades. Santorini’svolcano isoneof the fewactivevolcanoes onGreekandEuropean landThe islands that form Santorinicame intoexistenceasa resultof intensive volcanicactivity; twelvehugeeruptionsoccurred, oneevery20,000yearsapproximately,andeach violenteruptioncaused thecollapseof thevolcano’scentralpartcreatinga largecrater (caldera).Thevolcano, however,managed to recreate itself overandoveragain. Fira is thepicturesquecapitalof the islandperchedon the topedgeof theCaldera,260mabove sea level, offeringbreathtakingviews to the AegeanSeaand the islandofNea Kameni.Along theborderof the calderayou’llcomeacross the renownedvillagesofOia - the wholevillage looks likeawork ofartas thehousesarecarved into the lava rock - Imerovigli andFirostefani,whichare the best spots foryou togetyour sunsetviews. S Tragaki ZAKINTHOSTOWN Laganas AgiosNikolaos Tsilivi Akrotiri Vassilikos Q elcome tooneof themostexoticandexuberantGreek islands. Sitting in theheartof themesmerising Ionian sea, itboastsa wonderfulnatural landscapeandmagicalZantebeaches.Exploring thisdiverse island,youwilldiscoverpicturesquehilltopvillages, traditionalmonasteries,anddreamynatural landscapes.What’smore, theexotic beachesarehome to theendangered sea turtle speciesCaretta-Caretta,which everyyearhide theireggs in thefinewhite sandofZakynthosbeaches. The trademark imageofZante,as the island isknown in Italian (recognising itsVenetianheritage), is the scenicNavagio (Shipwreck)beach.Manypicturesandpostcardshave tried tocapture its beauty,but the reality is farbetter!Onlyaccessiblebyboat,Navagiobeachhasmagical turquoise waters,white sandand isbackedbydramatic toweringcliffs.While theview fromabove is simply breathtaking,you shouldalsoexperienceadip in itsenticinglyclearwater.Apart fromShipwreck beach, though, therearemanywonderfulZakynthosbeachesyou shouldvisit, suchasLaganas Zante,Gerakasbeach,Vasilikosbeach,andSpiantzabeach. Afterexploring theemeraldbaysof the island, takeabreak from thebeach life tovisit the island’s capital,ZakynthosTown.Strongly influencedby theVenetians,whohadalsonamed the island “FiorediLevante”(flowerof theeast),ZakynthosTownhasmanyhiddengems toexplore!Saint MarkSquare, theVenetianCastle,SolomosSquareand thePost-ByzantineMuseumofZanteare someof thebestplaces tovisit. W Zante (Zakinthos) The ‘LevantFlower’of the IonianSea Athens Paros, Naxos & Antiparos Rhodes Santorini 32 38 42 48 Zante (Zakinthos) MykonosTown Kalafati SuperParadiseBeach ParadiseBeach Q Ornos Mykonos ith sandybeaches,whitewashed villagesandavibrant,cosmopolitan party scene,Mykonosaddsa touch ofglamour to theGreek Islands. In contrast to the romance stampofneighbouring Santorini, this is theCyclades Island for fun- loving, sunworshippers. From July toOctober the island literallybuzzes as thebikiniclad, ‘partybeautiful’ brigadedance untildawnat themany, stylishbeachclubs like CavoParadiso,Tropicanaand similaronboth ParadiseandSuperParadisebeaches,andyet the islandhas somuchmore toofferwithample opportunity toescape from the fast laneof fun. Even revellers seekdowntimeand there isa distinctbohemian resistancefighting the turntable troopers. The island’smainhistoric townofChora Mykonos (MykonosOldTown) isadelightful traffic-free labyrinthofwindingcobblestone laneswithwhitewashedhouseswithbright bluebalconiesand shutters, lovelyold churches,andnarrowalleywaysdraped in bright fuchsiabougainvillea.Wander through themaze todiscoverquaintartisan shops, terracedcafésand little tavernas hiddenaway innarrow side streetsandquiet squares.Bordering thewaterfront the distinctive,overhanging terracedhouses haveearned thisarea the titleof ‘Little Venice’.Onahillsideoverlooking the townof Mykonos stand theemblematicwindmills, onceused to supplypower togrindgrain andnowa favourite instagrammoment. W Cosmopoltancultureand family-friendlybeaches Mykonos 26