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Aegean or Ionian Islands: Which is Better?

Regional Guides

02.11.2024

Aegean vs. Ionian

Which side are you on? Would you rather live in Corfu, Paxos, or Zakynthos... or would you rather live in Paros, Rhodes, or Crete? We know, it's not easy to pick sides. With Greek sun, famous hospitality, local cultural sites, and beautiful beaches awaiting you on both sides of Greece, there's no wrong choice. However, the Aegean and Ionian islands each have unique offerings to keep in mind when picking an area to buy a home in Greece.

1. Climate

A first major distinction between the islands of the Ionian and the Aegean Sea relates to their climate.

Climate of The Aegean Islands

The Cyclades, Dodecanese, and Crete are known for their dry year-round weather. The further south you go, the longer the summer season becomes. For example, Crete has the longest summer season in Greece. The southern Aegean islands are not forested, and a lot of their greenery consists of low shrubs. There, aromatic plants such as oregano and thyme can be found around every corner, and visitors in the summer season can easily harvest their own herbs!

Climate of The Ionian Islands

The Ionian Islands are lush and have a lot of greenery. Zakynthos and Kefalonia, for example, are known for their rich, green color. As a result, the land is slower to heat up when compared to the islands of the Aegean Sea. The blend of greenery with expansive sandy beaches in the Ionian makes for a unique experience.

2. Architecture

Architecture in the Aegean Islands

Santorini and its white and blue houses are usually what people think when they bring the Aegean islands to mind. While the Cyclades are known for their white and blue color scheme, this isn't the only style you will find in the Aegean. Ikaria Island is known for its stone architecture, and Crete has a blend of architectural styles. In Chania, for example, there is a mixture of Greek, Venetian, and Ottoman influences. In other areas of the Aegean, Orthodox and Catholic churches are found side by side, like in Tinos and in Syros.

Architecture in the Ionian Islands

On the other hand, Venetian architecture dominates the Ionian Islands since Corfu, Zakynthos, and Cephalonia belonged to the Venetian Empire from the 14thcentury until the late 18th. When entering the harbour of Corfu, you are met by colourful buildings and small streets. Corfu keeps the strongest ties to the Venetian Empire, and Corfu Town’s resemblance to Venice is beyond doubt.

3. Sailing

The Ionian and the Aegean islands are both popular for sailing, and they each offer unique boating conditions.

Sailing the Aegean Islands

In the Aegean, there are strong winds, also called the “Meltemi.” The Meltemi is a katabatic wind that comes down from northern Greece and shoots through the Cycladic islands. The Meltemi are dangerous for inexperienced sailors because they peak at 15-20 knots. As a general rule, they start in the early afternoon and die down in the evening, but can also blow for multiple days nonstop. Thank goodness for the wind when you're on land, though, because it keeps you cool when on the beach in the summer.

Sailing the Ionian Islands

The summer wind in the Ionian Islands is known as the “Maistro”. It is a tame Northwest wind, and it tends to give a reliable breeze from May to September. Some say that you can “set your watch to the wind.” If it’s before 11:00 am, there is likely not a wisp of wind. Then a breeze starts to kick up in the early afternoon, making ideal conditions for a relaxed sail. The wind is said to “go to sleep” at dusk. In the southernmost area of the Ionian Islands, you almost always get flat seas because Zakynthos and Kefallonia shelter you from the wind. Lefkada is considered the sailing capital of Greece.

4. History

The history of the Greek islands is very rich, both in the Aegean and in the Ionian seas.

History of the Aegean Islands

In the Aegean sea, Crete housed the Bronze Age Minoan civilization. Later, the Cycladic civilization rose in the cluster of islands in the south-eastern Aegean, which is known today as the Cyclades. Rhodes has been inhabited since the Neolithic period (4000 B.C) and due to its size and location, it has been famous throughout history. A case in point was in 280 BC when the citizens built the monumental statue of the Greek sun-god Helios. It’s more widely known as the Colossus of Rhodes, one of the Seven Wonders Of The Ancient World.

History of the Ionian Islands

The Ionian islands, on the other side, traditionally known as Eptanisa (seven islands), played a great role in Greek mythology and early history, being the home and the final destination of the legendary Odysseus. Historically, the Ionian islands are the only part of the Hellenic world that did not fall to the Ottomans after 1453, when Constantinople and the Byzantine Empire fell. Starting in the 13th century onwards, the Ionian Islands gradually became part of the Venetian state, and would stay under Venetian control for more than six centuries. During this time, the islands of the Ionian followed the trends of the Italian Renaissance, following Western European trends of society, education, art, and architecture. Corfu, for instance, has remarkably different architecture from the rest of Greece for this reason.

5. Local Wines

Greek island wine is popular, and itself has a rich history.

Wines of the Aegean Islands

The vines of Santorini are the most unusual. In response to the volcanic, dry terrain and the rarity of water springs, these vines are shaped into a wreath or basket in an attempt to take advantage of the early-morning dew. The white wine they produce, called Assyrtiko, is high in acidity and is often called the white burgundy of Greece. The island of Samos is the home of Pythagoras, and according to myths, Dionysus himself taught the local residents of Samos how to make this wine. There are both dry and sweet varieties of Muscat in Samos, and the most popular sweet wine from Samos is the Vin Doux. Crete, because of its location in southern Greece, has the most hours of sunshine per year. The red wines from those two regions are often full-bodied, fruity, and have smooth tannins.

Wines of the Ionian Islands

Robola comes from the Ionian Islands, specifically in Kefalonia, and only occasionally from central Greece. The vines that produce Robola wines are hard to take care of because of their weakness to drought, but the result is worth it. Some of the best places to find Robola wines are at Gentilini Winery, Petrakopoulos Wines, and Sclavos Winery. Mavrodaphne translates to “black laurel” and is grown in Kefalonia. It is very sweet and has high tannins, so some people compare it to a port wine, and they might pair it with a dessert. At the same time, for those who don’t like sweet wines, some dry varieties of Mavrodaphne are not on the market. An ideal pairing for drier Mavrodaphne wines is game, lamb, tomato-based sauces, and mushrooms.

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