All about Zakynthos

On October 2, 1980, the smuggler vessel "Panagiotis", a 630-ton mothership, loaded with 1,995 boxes of foreign cigarettes, worth 30,000,000 drachmas (at that time), sank on the northwest coast of Zakynthos, and which was destined to link its history with the more recent history of the island. The bad weather conditions that prevailed led the ship to run aground in the shoals of Spyrili Bay. Initially was considered a "curse" for the inhabitants of the poorer villages of Zakynthos in the northwestern part of the island due to the fear of the illegal activities (smuggling) that were taking place on its coastline and the threatened ecological disaster caused by the fuel and mineral oil spills from the stranded ship. Over the years it gave breath to the inhabitants of the area, who linked their survival to its tourist exploitation. Today the area that includes the coast of "Panagiotis" has emerged as a controversial property with foreign interests trying to arrogate it along with the wider area due to its global tourist attraction and the residents seeing their properties in danger of being encroached upon. In 1991 the Greek National Tourism Organization (EOT), chooses it as one of the most beautiful places in Greece for its campaign.The Shipwreck is slowly and steadily becoming the number one destination for tourists from all over the world with international visibility. Within 40 years the Shipwreck was transformed from a smuggler's ship to a cultural heritage monument of national importance and therefore its preservation became imperative and necessary. In addition, the seismicity of the region has brought it face to face with natural events, in which people must take immediate decisions to protect it.