3.9.2022: Drive with a hired car to the Vasilikos peninsula
On the Skopos mountain and to the beaches of Gerakas and Porto Roma.
At the northern ed of the Vasilikos peninsula is the Skopos mountain, as high as 400 m asl. A gracel road branches off to the right immediately after the sign "Vasilikos", leading up to the summit.
Here are the rests of an old monastery, built on the ruins of an old temple.
The church is one of the few intact buildings.
The church is open, candles and joss stick are providing a wonderful effect with the light beam cast through a high window..
Old walls
From Skopos mountain, you probably get the very best view to the whole island of Zakynthos.
Laganas cove and beach ...
... with our hotel Crystal, zooming in.
View to the north to the island´s capital with the harbour.
Panoramic view from Skopos mountain to the North: Laganas cove and beach, the mountaqins of the western coast, where we were yesterday, you even can see the northern end of the island with the neighbouring island of Kefallonia behind, and Zakynthos town, the capital. Click here or into the picture for a larger diplay..
Zakynthos town
Back from the mountain, we drive to the very end of the road - at the Gerakas neach, a large nesting area of the loggerhead sea turtle (Caretta Caretta).
A large info plate about the turtle and its nesting area along the beach, and about protective measures.
The large beach of Gerakas. It is only allowed to stay on a narrow band along the sea - behind is the area of the turtles, which must not be entered.
Volunteers watch the sand dayxly during summer and mark the places of the nests with wooden frames.
Gerakas beach.
On the southern end of the beach are impressive rocks with intersing stratification - layered sandstone above white marl (claim). The latter is very soft and crumbly, so the area is closed due to landslide danger.
The wall at the southern end of Gerakas beach.
Info plates at the barrier.
During a storm some years ago, a large part of the beach was overlain by coarse rubble from deeper parts f the cove. So it is no longer suitable for turtle nests.
Sea daffodills (Pancratium maritimum) are flourishing at the upper end of the sandy beach (Pancratium maritimum).
Where the sandstone is eroded completely, the marl is free to the surface and is withering to earth pyramids.
We drive back about 2 km to the beach of Porto Roma. From former holidays, we remember a wonderfully situated tavern - Nikos´ Tavern. A simple pontoon was buit by pros and wooden boards, to facilitate the stony way into the sea.
The innkeepers are providing beds for free - most of the people will find their way to the restaurant anyway.
Boulders at the beach from there to the north.
A bit of sand was put to the beach, solidified to the sea with a bit of hidden concrete.
The tavern is built into the slope.
Sea fennel (Crithmum maritimum) growing from crevices in the supporting stone wall.
Good life here.
In the evening, before we bring back the car, we drive to the hotel to carry up our beach gear and water bottles. A beautiful evening after a wonderful day.
