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The Flower of the East
The Island of Zakynthos, also known as Zante,
is one of the seven Ionian Islands lying a
few miles south of Kephalonia and opposite
the northwestern tip of the Peloponnese.
It is the third largest island in the Ionian
and measures 24 miles in width. The southern
part of the island is rich in pine forests
and deserted beaches, while the northern
part is less mountainous and more
cultivated, producing olives, olive oil,
Honeydew melons, cherries, oranges, lemons
and watermelons.
The island is also famous for the
Caretta-Caretta; the protected species of
loggerhead turtles, who come here to lay
their eggs in the summer.
Apart from its beautiful scenery and sandy
beaches, the island holds the remains of St.
Dionysios, renowned for the power of his
healing.
On August 24th of every year, people come
from all over Greece to see his body paraded
around the town and join in the festivities
of this highly auspicious occasion.
It is said, that anyone who lies in the road
in front of St Dionysios and under
the saints body as it is carried over them,
will be healed.
It is also here in
Zakynthos, that Greece's national nineteenth
century poet, Dionysios Solomos wrote the
Greek national anthem.
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