In the hinterland of Zakynthos lies Ampelokipoi, a distinctive rural village. Olive and grape growing shape its landscape. This makes the village a clear point of reference for anyone who wants to make its rural character a priority when choosing where to stay. Zakynthos adds other nature, culture and culinary themes to this sense of place, offering different perspectives on the destination.
Ampelokipoi: village character and local history
The name is also part of the local history: the village was formerly called Roido, and Zakynthians still call it that. In the courtyard of the Church of Agios Nikolaos in Ampelokipoi, a marble monument was erected in 1984 in memory of the villagers who fell in the war. The name reflects a local designation that has endured, while the monument commemorates the fallen residents. Together, these details add linguistic and historical dimensions to the description of the village alongside its agricultural landscape.
Natural attractions on Zakynthos
On the wider destination of Zakynthos, the Blue Caves are located in the Aspros Vrachos area at Cape Skinari. Lake Keri represents a different connection with nature: it is a wetland protected under the Ramsar Convention, a Natura site, and a nature reserve within the Zakynthos National Marine Park. These protected designations clearly distinguish the lake from the caves as a geographically located natural attraction.
The Keri Lighthouse is another landscape attraction on Zakynthos. It is known for panoramic views at sunset over the Ionian Sea and the Myzithres rocks. The natural attractions can therefore be distinguished by their features: caves at a cape, a wetland with multiple protection designations, and a viewpoint overlooking the sea and rocks.
Art and history on Zakynthos
The Zakynthos Museum displays works of the Cretan School, Cretan-Ionian icons, and works of Ionian Naturalism dating from the 15th to the 19th century. The mausoleum on the ground floor of the Museum of Solomos and Eminent Zakynthians offers a different way to explore cultural history: since 1968, it has housed the remains of national poets Andreas Kalvos and Dionysios Solomos. Here, artworks spanning several centuries and the commemoration of two poets stand as distinct themes.
Another historical landmark on Zakynthos is the Monastery of Agios Georgios sta Gremna in Volimes, founded in 1535. Along with the museums, it broadens the perspective on cultural heritage with a site whose founding year is clearly established. Art history, the commemoration of poets, and the history of the monastery thus offer three distinct perspectives on the island.
Regional orientation and local products
Regional orientation also includes the road connection from the area of Zakynthos International Airport to Laganas, one of the island’s major holiday resorts. It offers a different point of reference from Ampelokipoi and its rural village character. The port of Agios Nikolaos in Volimes is a seaport gateway connecting Zakynthos to Kefalonia by ferry. If you plan to use this connection, check the current ferry times.
One specific culinary reference is Zakynthian Ladotyri cheese: in Volimes, it is made in cheese dairies and home workshops and offered as a local product. This adds a regional product to the nature and culture themes. The potential focus of a trip to Zakynthos can therefore vary: Ampelokipoi represents a rural village in the hinterland, while the island’s other themes range from protected natural areas to art, history, and regional products.
Discover more destinations: Kallithea, Mouzaki, Lithakia, Zakinthos, VolĂmai, Xirokastello, Alykes, Agios Leon
For the broader travel overview: Zakynthos.
