The Ionian islands are filled with attractions - the beautiful white Kefallonian beach of Myrtos, the inland villages and marvelous beaches of Kythira, the Skorpios Islet near Lefkada and the charming villages of Meganisi. Go yourself and you will doubtless come home with many other favorites as well.

Corfu
Homer's 'beautiful and rich land' is the best known and one of the most beautiful of the Ionian Islands. A beguiling place of wildflowers and cypress groves, Venetian architecture and herb-scented mountains, 30 years unscrupulous and indiscriminate development has done its best to quash its charm.

At the city's heart is the gorgeously gardened Spianada and its elegant row of cafe-filled arcades, the Liston , built by the French and modeled on Paris' rue de Rivoli.

Paxi
Tiny Paxi (Paxos) is separated from Corfu by only 11km (7mi) of water but the absence of package tourism makes it feel a world away. Paxi's visitors may be more discriminating but they also need to have more money, as accommodation is sparse and costs are high due to the heavy dependence on imports.

Paxi has only three coastal settlements. Picture-postcard Gaïos is the island's attractive capital, with a Venetian harbour, a ruined fortress and red-tiled buildings of pink, cream and yellow stucco. The pretty harbour at Lakka is a popular yachters'. The fishing village-cum-resort of Longos is 5km (3mi) to the north. Inland villages like Bogdanatika and Magazia have a Venetian air.

Lefkada
In a pedant's world Lefkada (Lefkas) isn't an island at all, as it's joined to the mainland by a causeway. The pebbly eastern beaches are the domain of package tourists, even though the much more spectacular but inaccessible west coast has some of the best sandy beaches in the Ionian's.

Ithaki
Ancient Ithaca was Odysseus' long-lost home, the island where the stoical Penelope sat patiently weaving a shroud for her father-in-law. The port capital of Vathy is dominated by its fortified Venetian harbour. Attractive old mansions rise up from the seafront, and the centre is a photo opportunity of twisting streets and picturesque cafes.

The old capital of Anogi is 14km (8.5mi) north of Vathy. It's surrounded by a monastery and lighthouse, and goat-filled roads that wind past vineyards, and its highlight is the frescoed Byzantine church of Agia Panagia.

Kefallonia
The approach to Kefallonia by sea on a windy summer's day is marked by the delicious hint of wildflowers, thyme, oregano and rosemary wafting on the breeze. The modern-day capital, Argostoli , is a lively modern port with a folklore museum and an archaeological museum devoted to the island's Mycenaean past.

Zakynthos
The Venetians dubbed this once-sublime island 'the Flower of the East', but earthquakes and package tourism have destroyed much of the island's former beauty. The island's capital and major port is Zakynthos Town , whose former layout of wide, arcaded streets, imposing squares and neoclassical buildings has thankfully been preserved.

The beaches north of the capital have been transformed into densely populated resorts, crammed with lines of sun beds and umbrellas. Water sports are the main attraction of Alikes , in particular windsurfing, though why anyone would want to build a resort on salt pans is anyone's guess. Kaminia , Porto Zoro , Banana Beach and Agios Nikolaos further south are better places to worship sun and sea.

Kythira
Kythira epitomizes the end of the line that is never reached, the psychological thrill that comes from visiting somewhere far-flung. It's definitely the odd island out of the Ionian group. Kythira's major port is the northern town of Agia Pelagia , a friendly waterfront village with sand and pebble beaches.

The pretty green village of Mylopotamos is further inland towards the west coast, with a much-photographed church on its central square and its magical Neraïda (water nymph) waterfall a short stroll away.

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