Those considering Keri as a destination can weigh nature, local history and caves as three distinct areas of interest. Lake Keri represents a protected wetland, the Church of Panagia Keriotissa a history shaped by local tradition, and the Keri Caves excursions with different access options.
Lake Keri: a protected wetland
Lake Keri is a shallow, marshy area covering approximately 2,000 stremmata. It is a wetland protected under the Ramsar Convention, a Natura site and a nature reserve within the Zakynthos Marine Park. For travellers interested in landscapes and nature conservation, this combination makes it the main natural attraction among Keri’s points of interest.
Church and Mycenaean tomb architecture
The Church of Panagia Keriotissa stands in KerĂ. It was built in the early 17th century in honour of an icon of the Virgin Mary discovered in the village. The icon was credited with saving KerĂ from a raid by Barbary pirates. The church was renovated in 1745.
Northeast of the village, in PaliĎŚ KerĂ, a masonry-built Mycenaean chamber tomb with a domed roof lies on a slope above a ravine. It has a monolithic lintel—that is, a lintel made from a single stone—and a pitched roof. The church and tomb appeal to different historical interests: the church is notable for its architectural history and local tradition, while the tomb is notable for its described architecture and structural elements.
The Keri Caves: different ways to access them
The Keri Caves are near Cape Marathia on the island’s southwest side. They can be reached by private boat or as part of an organised excursion. Their entrances vary: some are only suitable for swimming into, while others are large enough for a boat to enter directly. For planning purposes, two questions are therefore useful: Would you like to reach the caves by private boat or as part of an organised excursion, and which entrances allow boats to enter directly? At others, swimming in is the only option.
Use your interests to guide your hotel search
When searching for hotels in Keri, you can start by sorting out your priorities: the wetland offers a focus on landscape and nature conservation, the church and tomb present different historical subjects, and the caves involve a decision about how to access them. These differences can help you shape your trip around your own interests without requiring a set itinerary. This makes it easier to assess Keri as a destination based on specific points of interest before choosing your accommodation.
Zakynthos as a wider travel horizon
Zakynthos offers other cultural attractions. The Museum of Zakynthos displays works of the Cretan School, Cretan-Ionian icons and works of Ionian Naturalism dating from the 15th to the 19th century. On the ground floor of the Museum of Solomos and Eminent Zakynthians, a mausoleum has housed the remains of national poets Andreas Kalvos and Dionysios Solomos since 1968.
The Monastery of Agios Georgios sta Gremna in Volimes was founded in 1535. The area is also known for Zakynthian ladotyri cheese, which is made in dairies and home workshops and offered as a local product. The port of Agios Nikolaos in Volimes provides access by sea; ferry services connect Zakynthos with Kefalonia. Check the timetable for your travel date if you are planning a crossing.
Discover more destinations: Fiolitis, Askos, Alykes, Lithakia, Skinaria, Tragaki, Sakynthos, Chartata.
Return to the main travel guide: Zakynthos.
