Zakynthos or Zákinthos belongs to the southern Ionian Islands, whose main town is also called Zakynthos. Geographically, we are here directly west of the great Peloponnese peninsula. It was the Venetians who ruled this picturesque island of "Zante" for over 400 years and rightly called it "Fior di Levante", which can be roughly translated as Flower of the East. However, the wildlife native to the area also delights tourists, along with the gorgeous beaches and resorts.
Right after Corfu, Zakynthos is the most important Ionian island from the tourist point of view. It is worth noting that Zakynthos is also very popular among the "loggerhead sea turtles" (Caretta caretta) for laying eggs. Therefore, in 1999, a marine national park was established here to protect the nesting sites.
