Discover Zakynthos
Nearby Beaches
Travellers’ No. 1 choice for a swim in the area is the award-winning Blue Flag Tsilivi Beach, as it is less than 200 m from Domus Alta. Enjoy a walk along the sandy beach, try the water sports, or dive into the crystal clear blue waters or visit the Venetian watchtower (known locally as the Vardiola) at the northern end of the beach.
Heading north, the sandy Boukas and Gaidaros (or Limanaki) beaches are equally close, and have shallow crystal clear waters. A beloved entertainment venue for families with children is Tsilivi Water Park, which is around 0.7 km away, and, with 7 water slides, is fun for young and old alike!
Strolling Around Town
Domus Alta is ideally located very close to the island’s capital (just some 5 km away), ensuring easy access and proximity to very important sights. The first port of call has to be the verdant Bochali hill with the Zoodochou Pigis chapel and the Venetian castle where you’ll enjoy a charming, panoramic view of Zakynthos and the port. The next port of call is the historical Strani hill, which is set amid dense swathes of pine and olive trees, and is the location where Dionysios Solomos wrote the Greek national anthem.
Within the town of Zakynthos, a stroll around the picturesque lanes will lead you to the traditional paved square of Agios Markos, where the neoclassical building of the Mausoleum of Solomos and Kalvos and Other Eminent People of Zakynthos, the Catholic Church of Agios Markos and the traditional clock dominate. In the charming Dionysiou Solomou Square with the statue of Greece’s national poet, you’ll see the Town Hall, the Post-Byzantine Museum and the Municipal Library. It is essential to stop at the church of Agios Dionysios, the Ecclesiastical Museum, the chapel of Agios Nikolaos of Molos, and the coastal Lomvardou Ave. or Strada Marina.
Churches
In Zakynthos Town it is worth visiting the church of Agios Dionysios, the patron saint of the island, where you can see the saint’s carved silver reliquary, as well as the Lady of Angels Church (Kyria Angelon) (built originally in 1687, and restored in 1953 after the earthquakes), a very fine example of post-Byzantine ecclesiastical art, the grandiose Church of Faneromeni (built between 1357 and 1485) and one of the most beautiful in Greece, and the Church of Agios Nikolaos of Molos (1571) in Solomou Square.
Outside the city, but equally important, are the Church of Agia Mavra in Macherado, the Church of Agios Nikolaos with its stone bell tower built in 1893 at Koliomeno, and the Church of Panagia Keriotissa in Keri, which houses pieces of fine carved artwork and portable icons.
Beaches
The island of Zakynthos is famous for some of the world’s most impressive beaches, renowned for their unparalleled beauty, cleanliness and clear water. The island’s western coastline, 34 km long, is marked by rocky beaches with caves while the eastern coastline, 37 km long, is full of golden sands. You can easily get to Navagio Beach, ranked as one of the 30 most beautiful beaches in the world, by sea via organised excursions from Porto Vromi and Ag. Nikolaos. The incredible beauty of the Blue Caves located along the island’s northern coast is also accessible by boat from Agios Nikolaos and from Xigia beach heading towards Cape Schinari.
Makris Gialos Beach (with sand and pebbles), Alykes Beach and Alykanas Beach (with fine sand) stand out in the north-eastern section of the island.
In the south-east try the sandy beaches of Argasi, Banana, Porto Koukla, Porto Roma, Porto Zoro, which are all popular, and in the south, why not visit the sandy beaches of Gerakas, Dafni and Laganas protected as spawning beaches for the Caretta caretta turtle; all are located within the bounds of the National Marine Park.
Points of Interest
Your visit to Zakynthos is bound to leave you with the most beautiful images and memories if you choose an excursion to Keri Lake in the southwest of the island. So whether you’re heading there from Zakynthos town (20 km from the lake) or Domus Alta (19.3 km from the lake) it makes for an ideal day trip. A very interesting route starts from the small island of Agios Sostis in the Bay of Laganas from which you can explore the National Marine Park. The boats set out from there for daily excursions to the uninhabited islet of Marathonissi, a spawning site for the turtles, heading to the blue cave of Keri near Marathia Cape, the rocky hills known as the Myzithres and the impressive rock arches. In the area one can find not just Keri Lake, but also a small coastal village with a pebbly beach, the picturesque mountainous village of Keri, as well as Keri Lighthouse; here the wild natural beauty is almost otherworldly and the sunset its truly enchanting.
Activities
There are dozens of activities that allow one to enjoy the unparalleled magic of Zakynthos’ landscape, whether on land (trekking/hiking, cycling, climbing on the western coast) or at sea (excursions by boat to see the sea turtles, sea kayaking, diving). An underwater paradise lies beneath the blue waters of the National Marine Park on the southern shores of Zakynthos. With absolute respect for nature and the sensitive ecosystem, visitors can choose a daily sea excursion to see the spawning grounds of the Caretta caretta sea turtles up close or spot Monachus monachus Mediterranean seals as they enjoy a swim in the crystal clear waters.
It is also interesting to visit Andriani Kladi's Pottery Studio [https://potterystudiocafe.com/] at Agios Sostis, a place of artistic creation where you can watch up close how hand-made ceramic items and jewellery are made, admire collections of ceramic works of art, attend courses or simply enjoy fresh coffee in pleasant, elegant surroundings.