The beach season on the Ionian Islands is quite long – already in May, the water warms up to a comfortable temperature for swimming, and remains so until the end of October. It is easy to get to each of the mono islands: by ferry from the port of Piraeus (Athens) or by plane, as most of the islands have their own airports.
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Corfu
The undisputed leader in this island galaxy is, of course, Corfu, the greenest island not only of Greece, but also of the entire Mediterranean Sea, It owes its lush vegetation to its location in the north of the country, so here, even during the heat, you can relax in the numerous shade of spreading olive groves. In addition, the largest amount of precipitation in the country falls here, so the local landscapes are always pleasing to the eye throughout the year. And it is worth noting an important factor: despite the fact that it is quite large, almost any part of it will be rich in greenery.
The island is known throughout the Christian world as the place where the relics of the island's patron saint Spyridon of Trimifunt are located. In the capital's Kerkyra, many buildings in the Italian style have been preserved today, which certainly attracts foreign buyers of real estate, there are also in its vicinity. Also very popular are the areas with picturesque beaches - Paleokastritsa, Benitses, Dacia, etc. Directly at Benitses is the famous Achilleon, built at the end of the 19th century for the Austrian Empress Elizabeth of Bavaria (Sisi). The object gained worldwide fame thanks to one of the James Bond series, which was filmed in a casino, arranged in the palace in modern times, where the Empress Sisi Museum is now located.
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Paxi
According to Greek mythology, Poseidon created this island by hitting the island of Corfu with his trident, so that he and his wife Amphitrite would have a quiet, peaceful place to rest. The island of Paxi and its smaller «brother» Anti-Paxi» are located in the immediate vicinity of Corfu. They are known for their picturesque bays with turquoise water, so lovers of swimming in the most beautiful and sparsely populated places often choose these islands for recreation. At the same time, you can live in Corfu itself (daily sea service) or in residential facilities on Paksi in traditional Greek villages.
Among the attractions is also the famous sea cave of Ipapandi on the northwest coast, and next to the harbor of the capital of the island of Gaios on the island of Agios Nikolaos is a ruined Venetian fortress, next to the island of Panagia is a monastery. Many people call Paxi an idyllic island that looks like a piece of paradise that fell from the sky.
Lefkada
This Greek island in the Ionian Sea is connected to the mainland by an embankment dam. The beaches of the west coast of Lefkada, such as Porto Katsiki and Egremni, are notable for sheer cliffs and turquoise water. The eastern shore is known for its Greek villages and the seaside resort of Nidri. In the north of the island is the main settlement of Lefkada. In the southern part of the island there is the Vasiliki resort, which is of interest to windsurfing enthusiasts. The eastern coast of this island is no less attractive to the eye, as it is rich in flowering vegetation. Well, it is impossible not to mention the beaches of Lefkada - spacious, with soft sand and picturesque panoramas.
The most popular cities for buying real estate are Vasiliki and Nidri. It is from the second that ferries go to Meganissi and other islands, including the legendary island of Scorpios, which belonged to the Onassis family, and now to the Russian billionaire Rybolovlev.
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Kefalonia
This is the largest of the Ionian Islands of Greece, where the highest mountain peak of the Enom region (1,628 m) and unique groves with fir trees are also located. 4 km from the island, across the strait, is the island of Ithaca. The capital of the island of Argostoli is a city built anew after the earthquake of 1953 on the site of the old one. Here, during the English rule, a multi-arch bridge was built, which is still in operation today. The main attractions that attract tourists are the Archaeological Museum, the Korjalenios Library and the Ethnographic Museum. 2.5 km from the city there is the cave of Katavotres, in which the patron saint of the island, Saint Gerasim, lived as a hermit.
Lixuri is the second most populous city of Kefalonia on the Pali Peninsula, also attracting the attention of tourists and foreign buyers of real estate. Fiscardo is also popular, the famous fishing harbor and the only settlement that was not affected by the earthquake of 1953, which is why the local houses have preserved their authentic historical architecture. The most picturesque place of the island is Assos, standing on the isthmus of the peninsula, on top of which stands a Venetian fortress. Also widely known in Kefalonia is the city of Sami, the second port of Kefalonia, where there is a beautiful embankment, as well as the ruins of ancient Sami and the acropolis.
Zakynthos
This island is the third largest after Kefalonia and Corfu in the Ionian Sea and the southernmost of them. It is located between two mountain ranges separated by a green valley. Due to the peculiarities of the soil on the island there are many artesian springs.
The sights of Zakynthos are mainly represented by picturesque beaches, luxurious greenery and breathtaking panoramic views. Many have seen photos of the island's beaches in the advertising campaigns of the Greek Tourism Organization. In the northern part of the island, you can touch a real natural wonder by visiting the blue caves, which are numerous grottoes, stone arches and blue waters. Zakynthos is considered the most environmentally friendly of all Greek resorts. The symbol of the island is sea turtles, they are called carettes or loggerhead turtles. There is a special protected area in the south of the island - a national marine park.
The main city of the island of Zakynthos (or Chora) is located on the east coast and is a small port city. Despite the fact that it was badly damaged by the earthquake of 1953, its center is well maintained, and the Venetian influence is felt. There are many museums and other cultural objects here. The city of Zakynthos is also famous as a great place for shopping: people come here for leather goods, in addition, there are many high-quality jewelry stores in Zakynthos with prices lower than on mainland Greece and other islands. In the city itself, the beaches are quite noisy, crowded and not the cleanest, like any municipal beaches in a large city.
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Prices
The cost of objects on the islands of the Ionian Sea, as elsewhere, depends significantly on the distance from the water, the presence of beautiful views, the infrastructure of settlements nearby and, of course, the size of the dwelling. In Corfu, housing is cheaper than 100 000 euros, but the choice in this case will be small, especially since most of the properties are for sale at a distance from the sea at a distance of one or more kilometers. Small houses and apartments with sea views have a price of 200 000 euros and above.
It is worth noting that objects on the first line of the sea with beaches are rarely and expensively exhibited on the island, but if this happens, then in this case the cost may already be several million euros. A similar story is typical for Paxi and Lefkada, Kefalonia and Zakynthos. The cost of a 2-3-storey house most often starts from 300,000 euros. A good selection of properties on these islands starts from 500,000 euros.
Thank you for your help in preparing the material:
Natalia Ruva, expertкомпании Roula Rouva Real Estate Agency
Наталию Ковалеву, директора по продажам компании Real Estate Service
