The West Coast of Greece and the Ionian Sea
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
“He likes to enjoy the sea from up here. How much wider it is, that much more it steals the heart. So much that your mind chokes.” Aristotelis Valaoritis Welcome to the west coast of Greece and the Ionian sea Crystal clear waters and pure natural beauty are the symbols of the Ionian Sea. The sea was named after Io who, according to Greek mythology, was a priestess of the goddess Hera. Io had an affair with Zeus, king of the gods, and Hera’s husband. When Hera learned of the affair she transformed Io into a cow. Io fled around Europe trying to escape Hera’s wrath. Finally, Io plunged into the sea, which was named Ionian, after her. MAP OF EUROPE MAP OF PALEROS MUNICIPALITY MAP OF GREECE Welcome to Paleros Paleros, a picturesque town located on the west coast of mainland Greece, is evocatively situated in a breathtaking backdrop of beautiful and serene vistas and the crystal-clear waters of the Ionian Sea. Olive trees, vineyards and pine trees extend down to the spectacular sandy beaches. Beachfront bars, restaurants and cafes are within walking distance. Ancient Paleros is a place of unrivalled beauty and grace, situated high in the mountains overlooking the Ionian sea and Vourkaria lake. The city had a population of over 10,000 people and was the location of one of the most important battles of antiquity. At nearby Aktio, Antony and Cleopatra were defeated in a sea battle by Octavius, who built the city of Nikopolis to commemorate his victory and moved the population of Paleros to his new city in 31 B.C. Everyday life in Paleros Many of the old traditions of the town are kept alive and unchanged by the locals today, giving the village its own unique character. Unwind and savour the pleasant and charming atmosphere, the relaxed pace of life. Enjoy a sip of ouzo at a traditional taverna by the sea or stroll through the small alleys of the village. Time has a completely different meaning in Paleros. 1 Daily excursions from Paleros Paleros is strategically located making it ideal for short excursions to the adjacent island of Lefkada, separated from the mainland by a floating bridge just 50m long. Preveza, Parga, Messolongi and many other places can also be reached easily by car offering wondeful destinations for daily excursions. 1 Lefkada linked with 7 The colors of the sunset Paleros municipality. in Ai Yiannis beach on Lefkada. 2 The emerald waters of Gremni Beach in Lefkada. 8 Korpi Springs known for the high quality 3 Porto Katsiki was voted of their mineral water. one of the top 10 beaches in the world. 9 View of Mitikas village. 4 Lefkada’s modern 10 A traditional house marina has a capacity in Messolongi. for 620 boats. 11 Preveza harbour. 5 Traditional house in the town of Lefkada. 12 Night view of Parga. 6 Aerial view of Aitoliko. 2 5 6 7 3 8 4 9 10 11 12 Perfect weather for sailing It is hard to imagine a more perfect sailing and cruising area. In the summer the wind picks up at midday, blows through the afternoon and disappears at sunset. This enables travellers to enjoy a good night’s sleep without worrying about the anchor holding. The perfect morning calm lets sailboats motor northwards against the prevailing wind direction and gives the opportunity for yachts and speed boats to cruise with safety. “In the 20 years that I have been involved in the yachting industry, I have had the opportunity to sail in many exotic locations from the Caribbean to Asia. I still believe that the Ionian Islands are one of the most attractive cruising areas of the world with their many protected anchorages, great hospitality and a fascinating wealth of history and culture. For this reason I have made Paleros my home for the last 13 years.” Brad Trusler, Sunsail regional operation manager for Greece and Croatia and his wife Mandy, Sunsail Ionian Base Manager Welcoming people Travel back in time, experience a lifestyle most of us have forgotten. “The pace of Greek village life is definitely in the ‘slow lane’ which suits us fine, we have made many Greek friends within the village plus local area and we now regularly share in their various annual customs and family celebrations… they have made us very welcome.” Yvonne & Eddie Hunt People in Paleros will welcome you with their natural sense of hospitality, a virtue that has made Greece such a popular tourist destination over the years. In ancient times, Zeus was the God of hospitality, who still lives in their hearts. Mild weather, Mediterranean climate Paleros sits on the edge of Paleros Bay, against the amazing backdrop of the Acarnanian Mountains shown above. Due to this unique combination of the mountains, which absorb humidity, and the sea, the area has a fabulous dry and mild microclimate, appreciated by all those who live there. AVERAGE TEMPERATURES IN PALEROS Paleros has a Mediterranean climate. Long, dry and hot apr may jun jul aug sep oct summers and mild, sunny C 20 25 29 32 32 29 24 winters. It has 300 days of sunshine per year. F 68 77 84 89 89 84 75 Taste the genuine flavour of simple fresh food Paleros cuisine is full of taste and variety based on what is now known as the Mediterranean diet. Fresh fish from Paleros Bay, fruit and vegetables from organic gardens, meat from animals raised in a natural environment and extra virgin olive oil make up this healthy diet. Delicious food at good prices and fine local wine are a big plus for the area. 1 Discover the Inland Sea, heart of the Ionian The Inland Sea is an area of water enclosed by the islands of Lefkada, Kefalonia and Ithaca to the west, the mainland on the east and within many scattered islands. 2 3a 3b 3c 7 8 9 “The fantastic scenery, gorgeous beaches and laid 13 back life style keep the area ever-popular with experienced sailors too, so it just keeps bringing people back year after year.” Sunsail, No1 yacht charter company worldwide about Paleros MAP OF THE INLAND SEA 4 5 6 10 11 12 1 3a 3b 3c 6 9 12 View of famous Nydri Views of beautiful View of Porto Leone, The natural harbour of View of the marvelous port on Lefkada in the Meganissi island. an old stone village Vathi in Ithaca, home waterfront of Fiscardo, foreground. Center left on Kalamos, a perfect of Ulysses, Homer’s hero a location for the filming the island of Madouri. 4 place to set anchor. in the Odyssey. of “Captain Correlli’s Center right Scorpios The house of the well-known Mandolin”. A meeting point island. In the background poet Aristotelis Valaoritis 7 10 for yachts and jet-setters. the Acarnanian mountains on the family owned island Kastos Harbour. Myrtos Beach on Kefalonia, overlooking Paleros. of Madouri. one of the most famous 13 8 beaches in the world. Sunsail Beachfront Hotel 2 5 Crystal clear waters and Marina showing Paleros Skorpios, the famous An old church on the at Atokos. 11 in the background. private island owned by beautiful bay of Kalamos. The panoramic scenery Aristotle Onassis, where of the village of Assos he lived with his second on Kefalonia. wife Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis. Ideal for watersports Paleros visitors enjoy excellent conditions for all water sport activities. Cross onshore winds blow gently into the protected bay making it ideal for swimming, fishing, sailing, scuba diving, canoe-kayaking, and water-skiing in lake-like conditions. The Ionian sea is particularly popular for diving and it takes just a short swim under water to discover the marvelous wealth and unique beauty of these waters. Moreover, the two marinas in Paleros provide all the supportive facilities for yachts and sailboats. You can push your limits to the extreme by experiencing the hype of kite surfing at Ai Yiannis beach on Lefkada, where the Open Kite Surf championships are held every year. 1 2 1 4 Weekend breaks Fishermen on the serene Experience rafting in lake of Ioanina. Voidomatis River north of Ioanina. from Paleros 2 The Vikos Gorge north of 5 Ioanina is one of the most Enjoy winter skiing at spectacular locations in the the Parnassos(near Delphi), Paleros offers an ideal base for outdoor holiday country. Karpenissi and Kalavryta ski resorts. activities and touring. Within 2.5 hours, by car, by 3 ferry-boat or by seaplane, you can visit some of the The imposing mountains 6 of Meteora, with the Navagio (shipwreck) most important archeological sites of the country, impressive monasteries Beach on Zakynthos. enjoy trekking in beautiful scenery, marvel at the set on the steep cliffs. vivid colours of the picturesque Ionian Islands and discover the natural beauty of the surrounding area. 6 7 11 12 3 4 5 7 11 The amazing natural port The archeological site of Gaios in Paxi Island. of Delphi. 8 12 The emerald waters and the The ancient theater famous sandy beach in Dodoni. at Antipaxi. 13 9 The stadium at Ancient The picturesque Olympia, the birthplace old town of Corfu. of the Olympic Games. 10 Achillion palace in Corfu island. 9 8 10 13 “The people here are so friendly and kind. The scenery and the village are still pure, as Crete was 30 years ago when we first visited it. We enjoy the peace and we have been coming to Paleros every summer, for quite a lot time, now.” Alfred Josepksen and his wife, from Denmark Is buying a property in Paleros a good investment? “We have now been living in Paleros since May 2002 and we are very happy with our decision to move home here.