Keri in Zakynthos

When looking for a hotel in Zakynthos, it is worth first deciding what you want to focus on at your destination. Keri combines a protected wetland, a church with local traditions, and an archaeological site nearby. Nature, cultural history, and different historical periods thus come together. These individual themes give you a concrete basis for placing Keri within the wider destination of Zakynthos and considering your own interests when choosing where to go.

Natural area at Lake Keri

Lake Keri is a shallow, marshy area covering approximately 2,000 stremmata. It is a wetland protected under the Ramsar Convention, as well as a Natura site and nature reserve within the Zakynthos National Marine Park. Together, the landscape and its protected status give the area a clear focus on nature, distinct from its religious and archaeological themes. If you are particularly interested in nature reserves and protected areas when planning your holiday, the lake is a specific point of reference for Keri.

Church and Mycenaean tomb

The Panagia Keriotissa Church is located in Kerí. It was built in the early 17th century in honor of an icon of the Virgin Mary that had been discovered in the village. The icon was credited with saving Kerí from an attack by Barbary pirates. This local tradition connects the church’s construction with a religious story; the church was renovated in 1745. This makes it possible to distinguish between its early construction and the later renovation.

Northeast of the village, in Paliό Kerí, a Mycenaean built domed tomb chamber stands on a slope above a gorge. The structure has a monolithic lintel and a pitched roof. The Panagia Keriotissa Church represents early building history and local religious tradition, while the tomb draws attention to Mycenaean architecture.

Keri Caves: access and planning

The Keri Caves near Cape Marathia on the island’s southwest coast offer another nature-related attraction. They can be reached by private boat or as part of an organized excursion. Their entrances vary considerably: some are only suitable for swimming into, while others are large enough for a boat to enter directly. The specific type of access is therefore an important distinction if you are considering an excursion. For organized excursions, check in advance which access options and cave entrances are currently offered.

More cultural and natural attractions on Zakynthos

Zakynthos offers other distinct cultural and natural attractions. The Museum of Zakynthos displays works of the Cretan School, Cretan-Ionian icons, and works of Ionian naturalism from the 15th to the 19th century. On the ground floor of the Museum of Solomos and Eminent Zakynthians is a mausoleum that has housed the remains of the national poets Andreas Kalvos and Dionysios Solomos since 1968. The Blue Caves are located in the Aspros Vrachos area at Cape Skinari and should be distinguished from the Keri Caves near Cape Marathia.

Discover more destinations: Fiolitis, Plános, Kallithea, Korithi, Kipseli, Alikanás, Romiri, Zakinthos.

For the main travel overview: Zakynthos.