Isole Ionie
Suspended between the deep blue of the Ionian and the emerald green of luxuriant vegetation, the Ionian Islands represent a cultur...
Updated 7 July 2026
Isole Ionie
This season · July · Summer
What to do in Isole Ionie now
The story
The story of Isole Ionie
A crossroads of civilizations: the history of the Heptanese
The history of the Ionian Islands is a complex mosaic that distinctly sets them apart from mainland Greece. After the decline of the Byzantine Empire, the islands became the last bastion of Western Christianity against the Turkish advance, thanks to Venetian rule lasting from the 14th to the 18th century. Venice brought not only fortifications, but also the Renaissance, opera, and an aristocratic social structure. With the fall of the Serene Republic, the archipelago became a battleground for European powers: Napoleon's French brought revolutionary ideals, followed by the Russians and finally the British, who established the United States of the Ionian Islands. It was precisely under English protectorate that the islands experienced major infrastructural development, before their definitive union with the Kingdom of Greece in 1864. This multicultural past forged a proud Ionian identity, intellectually vibrant, still visible today in academies, musical bands, and a hospitality that speaks of cultured Europe.
The Old Town of Corfu: a Venetian drawing room
The beating heart of Corfu (Kerkyra) is its Old Town, declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Walking through its «kantounia», the narrow paved alleys, gives the impression of being in a Venetian district transported into the heart of the Ionian. Tall buildings with green shutters, hidden squares, and laundry hanging between balconies create an intimate and vibrant atmosphere. The hub of city life is the Esplanade, one of Europe's largest squares, overlooking the Liston: an elegant colonnade built by the French in the style of Rue de Rivoli, where locals enjoy sipping coffee while watching cricket matches on the adjacent lawn, a legacy of the British period. The panorama is dominated by two impressive fortresses, the Old and the New, which for centuries protected the city from attacks, today offering spectacular views of the harbor and the Albanian coast.
The Achilleion: the Empress Sisi's refuge
Located just a few kilometers south of Corfu, the Achilleion is a sumptuous neoclassical palace built by Empress Elisabeth of Austria, better known as Sisi, in 1890. Fascinated by Greek mythology and desiring to escape the rigid court of Vienna, the empress dedicated the villa to her favorite hero, Achilles. The palace is a hymn to classical beauty, surrounded by terraced gardens descending toward the sea. Inside, you can admire frescoes, original furnishings, and a monumental staircase, but it is outside that the most celebrated piece is found: the statue of the Dying Achilles, desperately attempting to extract the arrow from his heel. Subsequently purchased by Kaiser Wilhelm II, the palace reflects an eclectic taste that unites Austro-Hungarian melancholy with the clarity of the Greek landscape, making it one of the most visited and evocative monuments in the entire archipelago.
Paxos and Antipaxos: the garden of olives and crystal sea
Paxos is the smallest of the main islands, a jewel covered by an unbroken carpet of century-old olive trees, some dating back to the Venetian period. The harbor of Gaios, protected by the islet of San Nicola, welcomes visitors with its pastel-colored facades and an atmosphere of aristocratic tranquility. The western coasts of Paxos are characterized by imposing white cliffs and spectacular sea caves, such as those of Ypapanti. A short distance away, the tiny Antipaxos offers an almost unreal chromatic contrast: its beaches of Voutoumi and Vrika boast the finest sand and waters of such intense turquoise that they appear painted. Without significant settlements, these islands represent the essence of slow living, where the rhythm of days is marked by boats returning to harbor and the cicadas' chirping among olive branches.
Lefkada: the island connected to the mainland
Lefkada (Leucade) has the peculiarity of being connected to the mainland by a movable bridge, making it easily accessible while maintaining its insular character. It is the island of poets and white cliffs, from which its name derives (leukos means white). The western coast is a succession of scenic beaches nestled between rocky walls, such as Porto Katsiki and Egremni, celebrated for the milky-blue hue of their waters. The interior of Lefkada is instead a world of its own, made up of mountain villages like Karya, famous for traditional embroidery, and dense pine forests. The main town, struck by an earthquake in 1953, was rebuilt with characteristic wooden and colored metal houses, designed to withstand tremors, creating a unique urban landscape where baroque churches coexist with modern lively harbors.
Cephalonia and Mount Ainos: wild nature
Cephalonia is the largest and geographically most varied of the Ionians. Dominated by the mass of Mount Ainos, a national park where a rare species of black fir grows and wild horses run, the island offers landscapes ranging from alpine peaks to hidden coves. Its recent history is marked by the tragic massacre of the Acqui Division during World War II, an event that indissolubly linked the island to Italy. Despite the devastating 1953 earthquake, Cephalonia has preserved corners of extraordinary beauty such as the village of Assos, perched on an isthmus and dominated by a Venetian fortress, and the harbor of Fiskardo, the only one remaining intact after the quake, where Venetian houses reflect in the water among luxury yachts and traditional taverns. It is an island that requires time to be explored, capable of surprising with its vastness and cathartic silence.
The Underground Lake of Melissani
Near Sami, on the island of Cephalonia, lies one of Greece's most fascinating natural phenomena: the Melissani cave. It is an underground lake discovered in 1951, whose vault partially collapsed thousands of years ago due to an earthquake. This allows sunlight to penetrate vertically, creating plays of light and transparencies that vary from cobalt blue to emerald green. The visit takes place aboard small rowing boats guided by local boatmen who recount legends tied to the place, once a site of worship dedicated to the god Pan and the nymph Melissani. The lake's water is a mix of fresh and salt water that travels a mysterious underground route through the entire island, reemerging here in all its clear and silent majesty.
Ithaca: the eternal return to myth
Ithaca is not merely an island; it is a universal symbol. Homeland of the legendary Odysseus, this harsh and mountainous land emanates particular energy, made of nostalgia and peace. Vathy, the capital, rises at the end of a deep bay that resembles a lake, surrounded by hills dotted with white houses. The island is crossed by paths leading to archaeological sites linked to myth, such as the Grotto of the Nymphs or the Fountain of Arethusa, but Ithaca's true magic lies in its authenticity. Here tourism has not overturned local rhythms: the small harbors of Kioni and Frikes preserve a charm of bygone times, with tavern tables lapping the water and genuine hospitality of residents. Ithaca invites slowness, reading, and contemplation, confirming that sometimes the destination of a journey is precisely the pleasure of having arrived.
Zakynthos: the Flower of the Levant
Zakynthos (Zante), sung by Ugo Foscolo who was born here, is an island of strong contrasts. Famous for its fertile plains, which earned it the Venetian nickname of «Flower of the Levant», the island alternates areas of intense tourist development with corners of untouched nature. The southern part, with Laganas Bay, is a sanctuary for Caretta Caretta sea turtles, which return here every year to lay eggs. The town of Zakynthos, rebuilt after 1953 following original designs, maintains neoclassical elegance with its great square dedicated to Solomos and the Church of Saint Dionysios, the island's patron. Beyond the crowded beaches, the hilly interior hides stone villages, Orthodox monasteries, and excellence in olive oil and wine production, testimony to a generous and sunny land.
Navagio Beach: the icon of the Ionian
Located on the northwestern coast of Zakynthos, Navagio Beach (or Shipwreck Beach) is probably the most famous image of Greece in the world. Enclosed between towering limestone cliffs, this strip of brilliant white sand hosts the wreck of the ship MV Panagiotis, run aground in 1980 while attempting to escape the coast guard. The contrast between the rusted metal of the hull, the white rock, and the electric blue of the water creates an extraordinary visual impact. The beach is accessible only by sea, but it can be admired from above from a panoramic platform situated on the cliff, a vantage point that offers a vertiginous and unforgettable perspective on the power of nature and the casualness of human history.
Traditions and flavors: the cuisine of the islands
The gastronomy of the Ionian Islands is a chapter unto itself in Greek cuisine, deeply influenced by its Venetian past. Here you will not find merely moussaka, but dishes with names betraying Italian origins: Sofrito (thin slices of veal with garlic and parsley), Pastitsada (stewed rooster or veal with cinnamon and cloves, served with long pasta), and Bourdeto (a spicy fish soup typical of Corfu). The generous use of warm spices and tomato distinguishes these recipes from the rest of Greece. Local products of excellence abound, such as Zakynthos torrone (nougat), Corfu Kumquat liqueur, and Robola wines from Cephalonia, fresh and mineral whites born from high-altitude vineyards. Sitting at a table in the Ionians means participating in a ritual of conviviality that unites Byzantine Eastern sensibility with the refined taste of the Mediterranean West.
- Explore the Old Fortress of Corfu at sunset for a 360-degree view of the island.
- Rent a boat in Paxos to discover the sea caves and deserted beaches of Antipaxos.
- Trek the paths of Mount Ainos in Cephalonia to spot wild horses.
- Visit the Monastery of Panagia Skopiotissa in Zakynthos to enjoy one of the island's most beautiful panoramas.
- Taste authentic Robola in the cooperative wineries of Cephalonia.
- Snorkel in the crystal-clear waters of Porto Katsiki in Lefkada.
- Stroll through the streets of Vathy in Ithaca imagining Ulysses' return.
FAQ
Qual è il periodo migliore per visitare le Isole Ionie?
Come ci si sposta tra le diverse isole?
Le Isole Ionie sono adatte alle famiglie?
È necessario noleggiare un'auto?
Quale isola è la più economica?
Getting there
- Aeroporto di Corfù (CFU)
- Aeroporto di Cefalonia (EFL)
- Aeroporto di Zante (ZTH)
- Aeroporto di Preveza-Lefkada (PVK)
- Non presenti sulle isole; collegamenti autobus KTEL dai principali porti della terraferma
- Lefkada è l'unica isola raggiungibile direttamente in auto tramite un ponte dal continente; per le altre sono necessari traghetti da Igoumenitsa, Patrasso o Kyllini.
- Se viaggiate in auto, prenotate i traghetti con largo anticipo nei mesi estivi, specialmente per le tratte verso Cefalonia e Zante.
Perfect for
Un paradiso per gli amanti dell'acqua cristallina, con alcune delle spiagge più iconiche del Mediterraneo tra scogliere bianche e sabbia finissima.
Un'eredità veneziana e britannica unica che si riflette in architetture eleganti, musei di pregio e tradizioni musicali d'altri tempi.
Isole verdi e montuose che offrono parchi nazionali, foreste di abeti e sentieri panoramici ideali per l'escursionismo.
Una cucina di confine che fonde sapori greci e influenze italiane, accompagnata da vini bianchi pregiati e liquori locali.
To see
What to see in Isole Ionie
Routes · Trovido Route
