Our star island for today is Zakynthos, also known as Zante, in Greece Zante has a nickname called "To fioro tou Levante" which means (The flower of the East).
This picturesque island located in the Ionian Sea is home to one of Greece's most famous beaches "shipwreck beach" (Navagio beach). Now this beach is not the only reason why we have chosen this island for this week's blog, Zakynthos has so much to offer anyone planning their destination wedding in Europe. Like most of Greece Zakynthos has endless options for venues, beaches, culture, history, food, and beautiful scenery.
Everyone's criteria is different when planning their destination wedding abroad. I always like to consider a few extra items on my check list. Zakynthos checks off most of my "must haves" when it comes to destination wedding planning. There are many sandy white beaches with calm turquoise waters which are perfect for beach weddings. Another Important thing to consider for you and your guests is transport. Zakynthos has an international airport making it easier to get to from many places in the world. It is a family friendly destination with many resorts that hold fun activities for our little guests including waterparks.
This island is a great honeymoon destination as well. And given that its neighbors are Kefalonia and Ithaki, you and your partner could easily do some island hopping after tying the knot.
One of the most amazing events that happens in Zakynthos is Loggerhead (Carretta carretta) turtle nesting season. Every year in June until the end of August the female Loggerhead turtles lay their eggs by the moonlight, burry them, and go back out to sea. It takes about 55 days for the cute little turtles to hatch and start making their way out of the nest. Survival rate for the hatchling is about 2 out of 1,000 that actually make it to adult hood. Every year we have volunteers from all around the world who come and help the baby turtles make it to the sea. If you don’t get a chance to experience the baby turtles' journey to the sea, another great way to see these beautiful creatures is by taking a trip on a glass bottom boat. These boats have a thick glass window on the bottom of the boat which makes seeing the loggerhead turtles in their natural habitat an amazing experience.
There are a few museums and ancient places to visit in Zakynthos, but the big earthquake in 1953 along with a week-long firestorm destroyed many of the monuments and cultural development. In the South part of the island you will find a town called Kiri, near the light house the views of the sunset are breath taking and a great place for your destination wedding photos. Keri is also known for its underwater caves which makes for an unforgettable diving experience.
There are many other activities for you and your guests to indulge in during your visit such as; wind surfing, sailing, hiking and more. From Porto Vromi you can take a boat to Navagio beach and enjoy the clear blue water and take fun selfies with the shipwreck.
