Greece Corfu And The Ionian Islands

Corfu and the Ionian Islands

There are hundreds of Greek islands scattered throughout the seas that ring the Greek mainland, and it has been traditional to group islands that share certain geographical, historical or other features. Each of these groups has come to assume its own distinctive image, a blend of terrain and architecture and "lifestyle" that now tends to be promoted to entice foreigners - who by their sheer numbers and foreignness often overwhelm the distinctiveness. But at least one group of islands seems to have successfully maintained its distinctive, indigenous texture, even though the islands have long attracted foreigners. This is the group known as the Ionian Islands, located off the north-western coast of Greece. Corfu is undoubtedly the best known of these islands, but knowledgeable travellers to Greece are increasingly discovering the appeal of the others in this group - Paxoi, Leukas, Cephalonia, Ithaka, and Zakynthos.

In fact, there is one other island (not to mention the many smaller "satellite" islets) that officially is grouped with these six as an Ionian Island - indeed, the Greeks call these islands the Heptanissa, "The Seven Islands." But this seventh island, Kithera is located at some distance from the others: it lies down off the south-eastern tip of the Peloponnesos, from which it is approached by almost all visitors, Greek or foreign. So because its links are essentially those of Greek governmental administration, Kithera is not included in this volume.

But the other six provide more than enough to satisfy visitors, whatever their goals in coming to Greece. The Ionian Islands offer an amazing variety of attractions - scenic, historic, archaeological, folkloric, gustatory, and just plain sun and sand. The Ionian Islands promise a most diverting environment for those who love Greece and yet are looking for something a little different.

The Ionian Islands initially owe their distinctiveness, of course, to their geographic location: spread out along the northwest coast of Greece, they have a slightly different climate from the familiar Aegean islands. They certainly enjoy the sunshine that makes Greek islands such magnets in the summer months, but it is also true that they enjoy somewhat more rainfall and are subject to different prevailing winds (mostly southwest and northwest). Naturally there are variations between the northern coast of Corfu and the southern coast of Zakynthos - a distance of some 320 km - but in general the Ionian Islands support more trees and vegetation than many of the Greek islands, so much so that they have been called "the Riviera of Greece." The lush greenery, the refreshing breezes, the sea-moderated climate - all contribute to a sense of a more temperate environment.

One of the principal distinctions that the Ionian Islands have derived from their geographical location has less to do with nature and more to do with human history: as the last outposts of Greece in the west, these islands have inevitably found their fates linked to forces from Western Europe. Albania, in fact, is only some 4 km. away from the tip of Corfu, but it is Italy - some 105 km. across the Strait of Otranto - that has long played a special role in the fate of the Ionian Islands. Italians would actually rule the Ionian Islands for an extended period, and the Italianate influence clearly remains in the architecture and other elements of Ionian island life. Other Western Europeans, both as individuals and as nations, have also had strong links with the Ionian Islands and have made their impact.

Today these links remain in the form of the influx of visitors who know that the Ionian Islands offer so many delightful possibilities for vacations. Location again plays a crucial role the simple fact of the short distance to Italy and Yugoslavia means that there is a wide choice of ships and ferries linking the Ionian Islands to ports along the Adriatic Sea and else¬where in the Western Mediterranean. The Ionian Islands closeness to the Greek mainland also means they can be easily visited as part of excursions to points all along the western coast of Greece. There are Olympic Airways flights to and from Athens for several of the islands, and hundreds of charter flights direct from some European cities.

So these Ionian Islands are accessible in many senses. Yet their essential "Greekness" remains, a Greekness with a special dimension. Each island, moreover, has its own flavour. Although the Ionian Islands can be visited by moving from one to another in a fairly brief period - say, two weeks - each island has enough to hold a visitor for a full holiday.