Zakynthos (Greek: Ζάκυνθος, [zacinθos] (listen)) or Zante (in Venetian) is a Greek island in the Ionian Sea. The island is named after Zakynthos, son of a legendary Arcadian chief, Dardanus. The name, like all similar names ending in -nthos, is of pre-Mycenaean or pelassic origin.

Zakynthos is a tourist destination with clubs and bars as well as events such as The Rum and Raybands Boat Party, Total Karnage and The White Party. The island's nickname is To fioro tou Levante (IT: Il fiore di Levante, in: The flower of the East), given by the Venetians.

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Zakynthos is the third largest island of the Ionian Sea, located on the west coast of Greece. The island is named after Zacynthos, are the legendary chief Arcadian Dardanos.
While Ios and Kos are associated with festivals and Rhodes and Crete with families, Zakynthos is something between the two. Most beaches and villages are on the south and east coasts, the west and north coasts are extremely hilly, often with cliffs dropping hundreds of meters straight into the sea.

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What distinguishes traditional Greek cuisine is a combination of the following factors: unique ingredients, the Greek philosophy of eating and sharing meals, as well as the country itself and the atmosphere in general.
The basic ingredients: Greek cuisine has four secrets: fresh ingredients of good quality, proper use of herbs and spices, the famous Greek olive oil and its basic simplicity. Greek olive oil deserves special mention. Present in almost all Greek dishes, and in most of them in abundant quantities, it is of excellent quality and very good for health. Then there are the vegetables and herbs. Due to the mild Greek climate, greenhouse cultivation of vegetables is not widespread. Therefore, most vegetables are grown outdoors and are very tasty and full of aroma. You will be enchanted by the taste of Greek tomatoes, lettuces, carrots, onions, parsley and garlic, not to mention the rich flavor and aroma of fresh fruits: grapes, apricots, peaches, cherries, melons, watermelons, to name but a few. The herbs collected by most Greeks in the mountains and in the countryside are known for their flavor, aroma and healing properties. Do not forget to also taste the Greek cheeses and particularly feta.
Seafood in the Mediterranean Sea is much tastier than the oceans. In the Aegean Sea and the Ionian Sea, the waters are crystal clear and abound in fish. Grilled fresh fish is considered a treat.
For the Greeks, sharing a meal with friends, whether at home, in a restaurant or tavern, is a deeply rooted social affair.
The atmosphere in typical Greek restaurants and taverns is very laid back, casual and unpretentious. Food preparation, on the other hand, has its own sacred rules. Good amateur cooks are much appreciated in their social circles. A good housewife in Greece means a good cook. And a good cook can spend days preparing a meal for his friends.
Atmosphere: Try to have a glass of ouzo or wine, accompanied by roasted octopus or any other Greek dish, sitting under the shade of a tree, in a small tavern by the sea, on one of the Aegean islands. Then, when you go home, try repeating this experience by preparing the same dish and serving the same drink.

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During the summer, from May to October, rainfall is very rare and temperatures are between 30 ° and 40 ° C.
The cool breeze is blowing a lot and the wind, the Mistral, typical of this island, increases in the early afternoon from north to south.
Below are some temperatures (in ° C) that are generally felt during the summer period.

May: The summer season begins with warm days and cool nights.
The island of Zante is still empty with few tourists and it is the ideal time to find solitary and relaxing beaches. The sea is practically flat and there are strong winds and Zakynthos has a gorgeous nature full of flowers.

June: It starts to be very warm and the beaches become the perfect place to stay all day. Also the temperature of the sea begins to be perfect and the beaches begin to fill with tourists.

July: It's very hot.
Tourism begins to be massive and people from all over Europe come to the island of Zante to spend their holidays.

August: the same warm July weather but more humid.
This is the ideal month for those who love the crowd and the nightlife!

September: the temperature of the climate begins to be pleasant and the less crowded beaches are perfect at noon. A few rainy days have turned into a blue sky with a warm sun. This is a perfect month to relax in contact with nature without mass tourism.

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