MEGANISI

Reached by boat from Nidri, passing Skorpios, the contrast between the bustle of that busy resort and the quiet solitude of Meganisi’s lonely bays and traffic free lanes couldn’t be more marked. With just three or four villages, hardly more than hamlets in reality and almost no tourist development, this is the perfect island to escape from the stresses and strains of a busy life. Even the entrance to Vathi, the island’s main harbour is watched over by twin churches to bless those arriving and leaving.

Mythology tells us that King Tafios, a son of Poseidon, was the founder of the town of Tafion. Later, according to Homer’s Odyssey, Ulysses gave his fleet to Mentor, the Tafion king at the time, when he left for Troy. Tafion is the island we now know as Meganisi. He would no doubt be comforted to see that there have not been a lot of changes to his beloved island since he was last there!

There are a number of beaches within walking distance of our accommodation. Spilia, close to the little port of Spartohori has a pebble strand, Ambelaki on the north coast is one of a string of beaches that can be reached by walking. Alternatively, caiques from Vathi can be taken there.

Another way to enjoy this remarkable island is to join one of the regular round island boat trips from Nidri which have the added attraction of visiting the famous shipping magnate, Aristotle Onassis’ island of Skorpios and the other smaller islands. Other boats visit Ithaka, Kefalonia and the inner islands on a regular basis.

Walking is excellent on the island and the only real method of travel to truly reveal the wonderful views and perspectives of the island and to visit the tranquil and uncrowded beaches that are dotted around the island. Below some of the pathways or monopaths, steep cliffs are honey-combed with caves, only accessible by boat, some even large enough, so the story goes, to hide submarines during World War Two.

Meganisi is one of the most picturesque and peaceful in the Ionian. Having a population of less than 2,000 it is also one of the smallest.

This is real Greece!