Zakynthos

Zakynthos
Ζάκυνθος
View of Zakynthos city
Zakynthos
Zakynthos within Ionian Islands
Coordinates: 37°48′N 20°45′E / 37.800°N 20.750°E / 37.800; 20.750
CountryGreece
Administrative regionIonian Islands
SeatZakynthos (city)
Government
  MayorGeorgios Stasinopoulos (since 2023)
Area
  Municipality
405.55 km2 (156.58 sq mi)
Population
 (2021)
  Municipality
41,180
  Density100/km2 (260/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+2 (EET)
  Summer (DST)UTC+3 (EEST)
Postal code
29x xx
Area code(s)2695
Vehicle registrationΖΑ
Websitewww.zakynthos.gov.gr

Zakynthos (also spelled Zakinthos; Greek: Ζάκυνθος, romanized: Zákynthos [ˈzacinθos] ; Italian: Zacinto [dzaˈtʃinto]) or Zante (/ˈzænti/, US also /ˈzɑːnt/, Italian: [ˈdzante]; Greek: Τζάντε, romanized: Tzánte [ˈdza(n)de]; from the Venetian form, traditionally Latinized as Zacynthus) is a Greek island in the Ionian Sea. It is the third largest of the Ionian Islands, with an area of 405.55 km2 (156.6 sq mi), and a coastline 123 km (76 mi) in length. The name, like all similar names ending in -nthos, is pre-Mycenaean or Pelasgian in origin. In Greek mythology, the island was said to be named after Zacynthus, the son of the legendary Arcadian chief Dardanus.

Zakynthos is a tourist destination, especially amongst British tourists, with an international airport served by charter flights from northern Europe. The island's nickname is "the Flower of the Levant", bestowed upon it by the Venetians, who ruled Zakynthos from 1484 to 1797.