If you don't recognize the place shown in the photo below, then you probably haven't heard of the Greek island of Zakynthos. About ten years ago, most tours from Russia to Greece were sold using this image. If you type the word Greece in the Google search bar, then on the first page with images you will find a similar picture. Even here on Hive, there are plenty of posts on this topic... Because this is really a very famous and recognizable place in Greece.
This bay and beach called Navagio — ναυάγιο means shipwreck in Greek — and, as I said, this place located on Zakynthos, one of the Ionian Islands. Until 1980, this beach was called St. George's Beach, but then there was an event that began the modern history of Navagio.
According to a legend that guides tell gullible tourists, here in 1980, escaping from police pursuit, a smugglers ship called Panagiotis crashed. The criminals disappeared, the cargo of contraband was stolen by local residents... The real story is quite prosaic — Panagiotis was returning from Albania to Kefalonia, got into a storm and, due to poor visibility, sailed past his destination all the way to the island of Zakynthos, where he ran aground in the St. George's beach.
Legends are always more interesting than ordinary life, so this place was named Smugglers Cove, and the beach was called Shipwreck Beach.
According to a legend that guides tell gullible tourists, here in 1980, escaping from police pursuit, a smugglers ship called Panagiotis crashed. The criminals disappeared, the cargo of contraband was stolen by local residents... The real story is quite prosaic — Panagiotis was returning from Albania to Kefalonia, got into a storm and, due to poor visibility, sailed past his destination all the way to the island of Zakynthos, where he ran aground in the St. George's beach.
Legends are always more interesting than ordinary life, so this place was named Smugglers Cove, and the beach was called Shipwreck Beach.
In September 2015, I spent several days in Zakynthos, exploring the island and its attractions. Without a doubt, Navagio Bay is the main natural attraction of the island, its visit card and the most impressive place that I have ever seen in the Ionian Islands.
To the Navagio observation deck, there is a good paved road, and at the entrance to the parking you can see something like this:
To the Navagio observation deck, there is a good paved road, and at the entrance to the parking you can see something like this:
The observation deck is a tiny iron cabin about four square meters. It is not surprising that when I arrived there — in the middle of the day — I found a rather large queue of people who want to take selfies. Why selfies? Because this observation deck is the only safe spot to take pictures of yourself.
It is quite interesting to see this picture today — during a time of general self-isolation and social distancing, right? :)
I don't like crowds, I don't like waiting in queues, and selfies are not my thing. So, like some other people, I started looking for another spot to shoot.
I don't like crowds, I don't like waiting in queues, and selfies are not my thing. So, like some other people, I started looking for another spot to shoot.
After a short walk on the cliff, I found a pretty comfortable place.
But!
There, on the cliff, you need to be extremely careful. Only caution will protect you from falling down. It is very dangerous to take any photos there, not just selfies...
Despite this, there were a lot of people hanging out on these rocks that day.
There, on the cliff, you need to be extremely careful. Only caution will protect you from falling down. It is very dangerous to take any photos there, not just selfies...
Despite this, there were a lot of people hanging out on these rocks that day.
Of course, my pictures cannot convey the danger I am describing. Pay attention to the photo on the right. Yeah, this is my leg. The picture is not very sharp because my hands (and feet) were shaking a little. :)
A boat on the picture below, I took with a telephoto lens with a maximum focal length (300mm).
A boat on the picture below, I took with a telephoto lens with a maximum focal length (300mm).
The beauty of this place overshadowed all my fears. Navagio Beach looked so amazing that I stayed there for more than an hour.
I've never been to the beach itself, so I don't have any close-up photos of the abandoned ship. All these pictures were taken with a telephoto lens.
Most people reach the beach by tourist boats.
But real extreme people choose to jump off a cliff. Yes, Navagio is a favorite place for base jumpers! Not far from the observation deck, there is a place where the height of the cliff overhanging the bay reaches about 220 meters. I allowed myself to insert in this post the most impressive video of jumping in Navagio Bay that I found on YouTube. Be sure to check it out!
Finally, I would like to show you a couple of photos that I think I made better than the others. These are panoramic shots of Navagio Bay and the cliffs that offer breathtaking views of the Ionian Sea.
I hope you liked my little photo report about one of the most famous places in Greece. Sorry for my terrible English, I'm trying my best. :) Thank you!
's travels
Canon 650D + EF17-40/2.8L USM + EF70-300/4.0-5.6 IS USM
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