The Ionian Islands are a group of seven main islands scattered along the western coast of Greece, known for their lush green landscapes, crystal-clear turquoise waters, and rich Venetian heritage. Unlike the arid Aegean islands, the Ionians enjoy a wetter climate that keeps them verdant year-round, creating a unique Mediterranean paradise. From the cosmopolitan charm of Corfu to the dramatic coastlines of Kefalonia and the famous shipwreck beach of Zakynthos, these islands offer an unparalleled blend of natural beauty and cultural richness.
Summary The Ionian Islands have one of the richest and most layered histories in the Mediterranean world. Inhabited since the Paleolithic era, they were home to major Mycenaean and ancient Greek civilizations, most famously as the legendary setting of Homer's Odyssey. Their strategic position between East and West led to domination by Byzantine, Norman, Angevin, Venetian, French, and British powers before union with modern Greece in 1864. This layered heritage is visible in the islands' unique architecture, cuisine, and cultural traditions., Periods Prehistoric, Ancient Greek, Roman, Byzantine, Norman/Angevin, Venetian (1386-1797), French (1797-1799, 1807-1814), British (1815-1864), Greek (1864-present)
Historical timeline
Key moments that shaped Ionian Islands.
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1
Homeric Ithaca
Ithaca is celebrated as the home of Odysseus in Homer's Odyssey, cementing the Ionian Islands' place in world literature and mythology.
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2
First Naval Battle in History
The first recorded sea battle in Greek history was fought between Corfu (Corcyra) and its mother city Corinth, documenting the island's early naval power.
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3
Corcyra Triggers Peloponnesian War
Corfu's alliance with Athens against Corinth contributed to the outbreak of the Peloponnesian War, a pivotal event described by Thucydides.
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4
Roman Protectorate
The Ionian Islands became some of the first Greek territories under Roman protection, requesting help against Illyrian pirates.
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5
Venetian Rule Begins
Venice took control of Corfu, beginning over 400 years of Venetian domination that left an indelible mark on the islands' culture, architecture, and cuisine.
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6
Battle of Lepanto
The Venetian-led Holy League defeated the Ottoman fleet at Lepanto — Corfu's fortifications played a strategic role in this turning point of Mediterranean history.
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7
End of Venetian Republic
Napoleon's Treaty of Campo Formio ended Venetian rule. The Ionian Islands briefly passed to France, then to Russia and the Ottoman Empire.
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8
Septinsular Republic
The Ionian Islands formed the Septinsular Republic — the first autonomous Greek state since the Ottoman conquest, under nominal Ottoman suzerainty and Russian protection.
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9
British Protectorate
The Congress of Vienna established the United States of the Ionian Islands as a British protectorate. British rule brought infrastructure improvements and introduced cricket to Corfu.
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10
Union with Greece
Britain ceded the Ionian Islands to Greece on 21 May 1864 as a gesture of goodwill to newly-crowned King George I. The union completed Greek territorial aspirations.
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11
Great Ionian Earthquake
Devastating earthquakes on 9-12 August 1953 destroyed most towns on Kefalonia, Zakynthos, and Ithaca, killing over 450 people. Only Fiskardo on Kefalonia survived largely intact.
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12
UNESCO World Heritage Inscription
Corfu Old Town was inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, recognizing its outstanding Venetian fortified architecture as the finest example in the Mediterranean.
Historical sites
Places where Ionian Islands's past comes alive.
Corfu Old Town (UNESCO World Heritage Site)
Inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2007, Corfu Old Town is one of the best-preserved Mediterranean fortified towns, featuring the magnificent Old and New Venetian Fortresses, the French-built Liston arcade modeled on Paris's Rue de Rivoli, and the Palace of St. Michael and St. George built during British rule. The labyrinthine Campiello quarter retains its medieval Venetian character.
Where: 49100
Admission: Adult: Free (town); €6 Old Fortress
Old Fortress (Paleo Frourio), Corfu
The Old Fortress of Corfu occupies the ancient settlement's rocky promontory, originally fortified by the Byzantines and dramatically extended by the Venetians from the 15th century. The Venetians cut a channel to create an artificial island, making the fortress almost impregnable. It withstood Ottoman sieges in 1431, 1571, and 1716.
Where: 49100
Admission: Adult: €6 | Child: Free
Achilleion Palace
Built between 1889 and 1891 for Empress Elisabeth of Austria (Sisi), the Achilleion is a neoclassical fantasy palace set on terraced gardens overlooking the sea. After Sisi's assassination in 1898, it was purchased by Kaiser Wilhelm II of Germany who used it as a summer retreat. It later served as a casino and was used in the 1981 James Bond film For Your Eyes Only.
Where: 49084
Admission: Adult: €7 | Child: €3.50
Temple of Artemis, Corfu (Archaeological Museum)
The Archaeological Museum of Corfu houses the remarkable Gorgon Pediment from the Temple of Artemis at Palaiopolis (ancient Corfu), dating to around 580 BC. This is one of the best-preserved examples of early Greek temple sculpture, featuring the Medusa flanked by two leopards at the center of the pediment. The temple was one of the earliest built in stone in Greece.
Where: 49100
Admission: Adult: €6 | Child: Free
Ancient Ithaca (Archaeological Sites)
Ithaca has long been identified with the homeland of Odysseus described in Homer's Odyssey. Several archaeological sites on the island have yielded Bronze Age and archaic Greek remains, including Mycenaean pottery and the remains of an ancient sanctuary at Aetos thought to be the Palace of Odysseus. The island remains a place of Homeric pilgrimage.
Where: Ithaca Island
Admission: Adult: Free | Child: Free
Venetian Fortress of Assos, Kefalonia
The Venetian fortress of Assos crowns a forested peninsula above the prettiest village on Kefalonia. Built in 1593 by the Venetians to control the sea lanes between Corfu and Kefalonia, the fortress is partially ruined but well preserved, with the original walls, gates, and bastions still evident. The views from within are among the most beautiful on the island.
Where: 28084
Admission: Adult: Free | Child: Free
Korgialenios Historical and Folk Museum, Argostoli
An important museum in Argostoli documenting Kefalonian history, the devastating 1953 earthquake that destroyed most of the island's buildings, and the subsequent reconstruction. Features pre-earthquake photographs, traditional costumes, household objects, and items from the island's Venetian and British past.
Where: 28100
Admission: Adult: €5 | Child: €2
Solomos Museum, Zakynthos Town
A museum dedicated to Dionysios Solomos (1798-1857), the Zakynthian poet who composed the Hymn to Liberty, which became the Greek national anthem. The museum houses personal belongings, manuscripts, portraits, and historical documents related to Solomos and other prominent Zakynthian intellectuals of the 19th century.
Where: 29100
Admission: Adult: €3 | Child: Free
Byzantine Museum, Zakynthos
An exceptional collection of post-Byzantine religious art rescued from the ruins of churches destroyed in the 1953 earthquake. The collection includes icons, portable altarpieces, frescoes, and sculptural works representing the Ionian School of painting — a distinctive style developed on the Ionian Islands blending Byzantine tradition with Italian Renaissance influences.
Where: 29100
Admission: Adult: €4 | Child: Free
Lefkada Archaeological Museum
Located in Lefkada Town, this museum houses an interesting collection of finds from excavations across Lefkada island, including prehistoric pottery, Bronze Age jewelry, ancient Greek ceramics, and Roman objects. The collection spans over 3,000 years of Lefkadan history.
Where: 31100
Admission: Adult: €3 | Child: Free