Cruises at the Ionian Sea

 

Antipaxos

 

Only 1,5 a nautical mile away from the island of Paxos is situated the island of Antipaxos. This small green covered piece of land, with olive trees and vineyards has got an area of only 5 square kilometers.
Its only one harbor is called "Agrapidia" and the villages of the island consist of low houses and vineyards. But, here in this island you will find some of the most beautiful beaches in the Ionian Sea, like the exotic beach of "Paradise". "Paradise beach" is unique in the island of Antipaxos, because of its white gold silky sand beach (outside and inside the water), the cleanest and light blue colors, and of course of the brightest blue Eptanisian Sea. During the summer season a lots of yachts, of the entire world spent on Anchor their holidays. Also caiques or boats from Corfu and Paxos islands, even from the city of Parga and the port village of Sivota (mainland) sail in daily to enjoy the swimming in the clear waters of this island.So while you spent your holidays in Corfu Island or Paxos Island or even at the city of Parga and the port village of Sivota you can have the opportunity to visit this island by a day trip.

Corfu town

 

Corfu town has a vast selection of shops selling traditional Greek goods, jewellery, leather, olive wood souvenirs and the famous liqueur Qum Quat that the plant had been brought from China by Marco Polo.
A precious jewel recommended for all to take home with them, memories of Corfu town. Have your cameras ready while cruising from Parga to the town of Corfu because during our sailing, on your left you will be able to see the Palace of Sissy, the Trademark of the island Pontikonisi (Mouse Island).

Himare Albania

 

Himare is a village next to the port of Albania and belongs to the prefecture of Argyrokastro (Gjirokastre). It lays 32 Nautical miles away from the main port of Corfu Island, opposite the northwest island of Greece "Othoni" and opposite the southeast shores of Italy at the level of Otrando town. This small port village is situated at the foot of the mountain "Keravnia" (Cikes) and at the estuary of a torrent, next to the Ionian Sea. Because of the position and the way that Himare was built, it took its name from the Greek word Himarros, which means torrent. It has a population of 500 inhabitants, a number that increases up to 3000 during summer time. This comes as a result mostly by the emigrants who return home for their holidays, and the interior tourism, of Tirrana capitol and other Albanian cities. Yachts from Italy arrive at Himare to spend few weeks -between July and August- and to relax in its traditional village that has a coastline of 60 kilometers, sand and pebble beaches. The climate of Himare is dry during the summer season, cold and dry during the wintertime.

The economy is mainly based on agriculture, stockbreeding, and fishing. Its population is constituted by a Greek minority and Albanians, by Greek Orthodox and Moslem believers. Above Himare and the heights of mountain "Keravnia" are four Greek minority villages scattered, with many natural springs. Ontop of the hill named the hill of "prophet Elias" (2025 meters) was situated the fortress of Himare which was destroyed during the second War World. The village of Himare is built in the old traditional Albanian style by handmade carved stone.

Igoumenitsa

 

Igoumenitsa is the capital city of Thesprotia and the third port in size in Greece. It is situated in the northwest part of mainland Epirus, opposite Corfu Island (18 nautical miles) and very close to the borders between Greece and Albania. It lies also 92 km away from Ioannina (Ioannina is the capital of Epirus).
The geographical position of it turned the city of Igoumenitsa into a very important harbor of Northwest Greece, which is connected by ships of several shipping companies with the ports of Italy, Trieste, Venice, Ancona, Bari, Brindisi, Otranto, the Greek ports of Corfu Island, the city of Patra and several other Ionian islands. On top of the hill of Igoumenitsa are found the ruins of a Turkish Fortress, which was built in quadrangle style to defend the town of pirates' attacks. The city of Igoumenitsa was rebuilt after 1944 in a modern style, with many hotels, bars, Discos, restaurants and traditional taverns and kafeneios.
Having that as a start point, you can visit a lot of destinations in the mainland Epirus by the local bus, or you can rent a car. Some of the places of interest you can visit are Ioannina, Metsovo, Meteora, Thessaloniki, Dodona, Parga, Arta.

Ithaka

 

The island of Ithaka is known in the whole world through the epic poet Homer, as the birthplace, the kingdom and the beloved, patria of the resourceful Odysseus who was the most popular character in the Greek Mythology. The legend has it that the island took its name from its first settler "Ithacus", who was the son of the Olympian god of the sea Poseidon. Ithaka Island or "Ithaci" as the island is called from its inhabitants, is the greatest Symbol in the world of adventure, of nostalgia for one´s place of birth and of loyality. With an area of 96 km and a population of 3500 inhabitants Ithaka Island is the fifth island in size in the Ionian Sea. It lies south of Lefkada island and north east of the island of Kefalonia from which is separated by a strait of 3,5 km. This beautiful island has a coastline of 101 km with rocky and sand purple beaches washed by crystal blue - green water. The most part of Ithaka is mountainous whose highest peak is the Mt. of Niritos at 800 m (according to the Mythology Anticleia the wife of Ithaka King Laertes, because it was raining give born to Odysseus into a cave of Mt. Niritos. The climate of the island is mild and Mediterranean and it is sunny for the most of the year. The island economy is based mainly a stockbreeding, fishing and tourism. The two waves of emigration, the first in 1829 and the second in 1845 made Ithakans famous as sailors and merchants abroad. Capital of the island is the picturesque port of Vathi; that it is also the largest city of the island.

Kefalonia

 

Kefalonia island is the largest island in the Ionian Sea, with an area of 688,8 square kilometres and the sixth in size of all the Greek islands. It has a population of 27.000 inhabitants. It lies opposite the Golf of Patras between Lefkada and Zakinthos islands. It is made up of four peninsulas Paliki, Erissos, Livathos and Atros. The biggest part of the island is mountainous, the higher of which is the mountain of Aenos up to 1628m, which is covered with fir trees of a unique variety that only grow in Kefalonia with whitish branches and sharp needles. The climate of the island is temperate and it is sunny for the most of the year. The economy is based mainly on its agricultural production and on fishing. Kefalonia's capital is Argostoli that is the largest town of the island with a population of 7.500 inhabitants. According to Apollodorus of Athens, Kefalonia is believed to have taken its name from the handsome hero Cephalus, son of the God Hermes and the nymph Herse. Kefalonia Island is an island with many geological phenomena and treasures, such as caves and underground salt lakes, like the impressive cave of Drogarati with Stalactites and Stalagmites, that experts have estimated that to be about 150 million years old. The cave and salt lake of Melissani with its rare beauty took its name from the nymph Melisanthi, whose name has been corrupted to Melissani, who loved God Pan and drowned in the lake when he rejected her. The water of the lake of Melissani empties into the lake of Karavomilos, another geological phenomenon. Both of those lakes are situated in the port village of Sami. Sami was one of the island's four ancient cities, that their inhabitants according to Homer participated in the Trojan War and 24 of Penelope's 180 suitors were from Sami. Also a part of the famous film "Captain Corelis Mandolin" was filmed in this port village. In the sea of the village of Fiskardo, another picturesque place of the island, is the home enviroment of the Mediterranean Seal Monacus-Monacus. Kefalonia Island has a rich cultural heritage that is mainly tied to literature and music. It is an island with beautiful landscapes and pure white sand beaches, with an area of 254km of coastline.

Lefkada

 

Lefkada (Lefkas) island, which it´s means (The White One) or Santa Mavra as it was called earlier is the fourth island in size of the seven Ionian Islands, with an area of 302 sq. km., a population of 20.000 inhabitants and a coastline of 117 km. The island of Lefkada is located near the north west end of Acarnania Mainland from which is separated by a channel of only 28 meters wide. It lies 31 nautical miles north of Ithaka Island and 45 nautical miles north of Kefalonia Island. Old historians noted that in the 7th century BC Lefkada was a peninsula. When the Corinthians captured Lefkada opened a channel at the north east part of it and turned it into an island. The climate of Lefkada is mild and Mediterranean, with plenty of rains in the winter time. The economy is based mainly on its agricultural produce on fishing and the tourisms. The most important cultivations are olive groves, wine yards and honey. The capital of the island is called also Lefkada or Chora. The picturesque Basiliki bay village (Basiliki means the Royal One) is located in the south and has the most beautiful silky sandy beach on the island with crystal blue or turquoise waters, traditional taverns and cafeterias among the seashores Lefkada is the homeland of two of the most important modern Greek poets "Angelos Sikelianos" and Aristotelis Valaoritis.

Parga

The town of Parga is situated in the province of mainland Epirus. Like a picture from the past, the amphitheatricly built cosmopolitan city of Parga is one of the most popular destinations of the northwest mainland of Greece. The summers of Parga are cool with average temperature of less than 35 Celcius degrees, while the winter months are not severe, having an average temperature of around 5 Celcius degrees. The dense vegetation is a pleasant surprise for the visitor when he explores the interior of Parga. Natural beauties, graphical bays, amazing beaches, thousands of gray-green olive trees and enormous plane trees decorate and cavern the flat area of Parga. Its green vegetation tries to reach the Ionian Sea, which is often separated only by a small sandy trip. During your stroll into its narrow streets, which most of them lead up to the hill of the town, on your left and right you will find a lot of souvenir shops, bars, traditional kafeneios and taverns with spectacular view to the Ionian Sea.

On top of the hill is situated the Turkish Venetian Castle of the 18th century. The breathtaking view from there will amaze you. In front of you, you will see the ceramic rooftops of the amphitheatric built city of Parga. The port of it and the small green covered island of Blessed Virgin with the homonymous Monastery of Vlachernon built in the beginning of the 12th century. Also the impressive colors of the Ionian Sea as far as you can see and when the atmosphere is clear opposite you will be able to see the island of Antipaxos, Paxos and the south tip of Corfu Island, the tip of Asprokavos. It is not only that visitors come here to enjoy the beautiful scenery, the sea and the sun. The beautiful landscape and the rare beauties of Parga, offer to their visitors the cosmopolitan air of another time.


Paxos

 

The legend has it that Paxos Island was formed when Poseidon, god of the sea severed the south tip of Corfu island with one mighty blow of his trident and dragged it south to create an idyllic retreat for his beloved wife Amphitriti.  With an area of 25 sq km. and a population of 2500 inhabitants this green island covered, mostly of olive and cypress trees, is the smallest in the Ionian sea . It lies only 7 nautical miles from Corfu island 30 nautical miles from the harbour of Corfu city and 12 nautical miles from the beautiful city of Parga, of mainland Epirus which is situated opposite the island. The natural beauty of Paxos attracts dozens of yachts giving the island a cosmopolitan air. White impressive rocks sit vertically along the whole western site of the island. There, are also situated the famous blue caves. According to the legend, in the blue cave of Ypapanti, which is 1200m long and leads to the centre of the island, was situated the marble palace of Poseidon and Amphitriti. Gaios is the capital of Paxos island and took the name of a student of Apostel Paul who introduced Christianity on the island, died and was buried in there.
The small channel which leads to the village city of Gaios impresses every one with the natural fjord that is formed at its entrance by two small islets, the isled of Panagia (Blessed Virgin) and the isled of Agios Nicolas. The inhabitants of Paxos island are mostly working on the cultivation of the olive, fishing and tourism.

Plataria

 

The small port village of Plataria is situated in the northwest Greek coastline of mainland. Epirus 13 km away from the International harbor town of Igoumenitsa and 35 km away from the port city of Parga.
Opposite of Plataria lies the south tip of Corfu island, the tip of Asprokavos, separated by a narrow channel of 9 nautical miles. Plataria is build in between two tips, the tip of Agionisi (Holy island) and the tip of Hironisi (pork island).In this place where Plataria is situated now in the 2 century B.C. was placed, the ancient city of Ptolemaius named "Almini" and by the time of the Byzantine period of the 7th century AD was placed "Kalomini" the town as Stephanus Byzantius report us. Also in between the hills of Plataria and Mourtos are the ruins of the prehistorically Akropolis of "Vrachora". Plataria has a population of 1000 inhabitants. This number triples during the summer season from the visitors. Here in Plataria the visitor will find a lot of restaurants with fresh fish and cafeterias near by the Marina. The amazing pure sand beaches and the green vegetation of the area that tries to reach the Ionian Sea, which of ten separated by a small sandy trip give to this place a rare beauty.

Saranda Albania

 

The port town of Agii Saranda is situated in the southeast part of the country of Albania, opposite the northeast part of Corfu's island (Greece) and 26 km close to the Greek borders. In the ancient times the name of this town was Onchesmus. According to the famous Albanian historical writer Mr. Neritan Ceka (Minister of Interior 1997-1998) this town took its name from the Trojan Prince father "Anchises". The name of Agii Saranda according to the Legend comes from the Christian time of the 15th century, when 40 monks, soldiers, were decapitated by the Turks because they wouldn't change their religion. So, the folk and the church declared them as Saints. The origin of the name of Agii Saranda comes from two Greek words. Agii means Saints, Saranda means the number forty. Today the city is called only Saranda. The town has a population of 30.000 inhabitants. This number triples during the summer time because Saranda town is very well organized. The inhabitants of all Albania and Kossovo like to spend their holidays in this town, which is lying next to the Ionian Sea. We have to mention that as far as religion is concerned, Albanians are 60% Muslims, 30% Greek Orthodox and 10% Catholics. The climate of Saranda is mild Mediterranean and sunny most of the year. The economy of Saranda town is based mainly on its agricultural products from the valley of Valtos, on the cultivation of mussels from the salt lake of Vouthrotos (Butrint ). Fishing is another source of wealth and finally tourism, which has been growing slowly but steadily during the last nine years. The town of Saranda is built in amphitheatric style with three parallel roads. Four series of step stairs lead from the top of the hill of the town down to each promenade. After the revolution of 1990 this town was rebuilt in a modern style. Modern Hotels with the 5 stars Hotel "Butrint" being the top one, bars, restaurants and cafeterias and also a promenade with palm trees. Several arts of roses and bougainvilleas next to the Ionian Sea give to Saranda the air of a cosmopolitan town. Therefor Saranda is the most touristic destination of all Albania .The inside of the town is a combination of top new buildings, old taverns, cafeterias and houses built in the traditional impressive stone style, even with top roofs of stone plates. Albanian and northwest Greeks are the best carved-stone workers in the world.

Sivota

 

The small port village of Sivota (Mourtos) is situated in the northwest coastline of mainland Epirus 22 kilometers away from the International harbor town of Igoumenitsa, 39 kilometers away from the city of Parga and opposite lies the south tip of Corfu island, the tip of Asprokavos, separated by a narrow channel of 4 nautical miles. In front of it there are four small isles. The most beautiful of them is the isle of Bella Vraka and the isle of Saint Nicolas.

As the most coastline of mainland also the green vegetation of Sivota tries to reach the Ionian Sea, which is often separated by small sandy strips. Here in Sivota the visitor will find a lot of amazing small beaches of Zeri, Galikos Ormos, Bello Vrako, Zavia and the exotic bay of "Pishina" where a part of the famous film "Blue Lagoon" was filmed. Sivota's coast morphologies made it the last years into an international famous place where people can windsurf all the year through.


 


This site is powered by perfectweb.gr