Introduction to Ionian Islands

"The isles of Greece, the isles of Greece" -- when Lord Byron tossed his bouquet, he was not under the spell of today's popular Cycladic islands but of Western Greece and the Ionian Islands. Located off Greece's northwest coast, the Ionians offer some of the country's loveliest natural settings, including beaches, a fine selection of hotels and restaurants, a distinctive history and lore, and some unusual architectural and archaeological sites.

The Ionian Islands are rainier, greener, and more temperate than other Greek islands, so the high season lasts a little longer, from late June to early September. The roads are generally in fine condition, even if unavoidably steep and twisting. Accommodations range from luxury resorts to quiet little rooms on remote beaches. The local cuisine and wines offer numerous special treats. Among the best are sofrito, a spicy veal dish; bourdetto, a spicy fish dish; and wines such as Robola, Liapaditiko, and Theotaki (this last preferred by James Bond).

The Ionian Islands (which the Greeks know as the Heptanissi, or "Seven Islands") include Corfu (Kerkira), Paxos (Paxoi), Levkas (Lefkas, Lefkada), Ithaka (Ithaki), Kefalonia (Kefallinia, Cephalonia), and Zakinthos (Zakynthos, Zante); the seventh, Kithira (Cythera, Cerigo) -- off the south coast of the Peloponnese -- is linked only as a government administrative unit. There are several other islands in the archipelago along Greece's northwest coast, including some that are sparsely inhabited.