Corfu and the Ionian Islands
There are hundreds of Greek islands scattered throughout the seas that ring the Greek mainland, and it has been traditional to group islands that share certain geographical, historical or other features. Each of these groups has come to assume its own distinctive image, a blend of terrain and architecture and “lifestyle” that now tends to be promoted to entice foreigners – who by their sheer numbers and foreignness often overwhelm the distinctiveness. But at least one group of islands seems to have successfully maintained its distinctive, indigenous texture, even though the islands have long attracted foreigners. This is the group known as the Ionian Islands, located off the north-western coast of Greece. Corfu is undoubtedly the best known of these islands, but knowledgeable travellers to Greece are increasingly discovering the appeal of the others in this group – Paxoi, Leukas, Cephalonia, Ithaka, and Zakynthos.
In fact, there is one other island (not to mention the many smaller “satellite” islets) that officially is grouped with these six as an Ionian Island – indeed, the Greeks call these islands the Heptanissa, “The Seven Islands.” But this seventh island, Kithera is located at some distance from the others: it lies down off the south-eastern tip of the Peloponnesos, from which it is approached by almost all visitors, Greek or foreign. So because its links are essentially those of Greek governmental administration, Kithera is not included in this volume.
