From the small village of Anafonitria on the Greek island of Zakynthos is a platform that peers down upon one of Greece’s most historical treasures – Navagio Beach. This
ultra-remote location is refuge to the wreckage of Panagiotis – a smuggler ship that ran aground the shallow bay after being pursued by Greek authorities on a stormy night in 1983. The ship was carrying a load of contraband cigarettes, women and alcohol.
The shipwreck remains today in the destitute cove, held captive in the white Grecian sands, surrounded by limestone cliffs and water that is so brilliantly turquoise it is worth the trip in itself to see. Navagio is the country’s most enchanting beach, luring thousands of visitors from around the world yearly to its seductive shores. Accessible only by boat, visitors may experience the startling feeling of being stranded, until they are whisked away by boat, leaving the Panagiotis in its solidarity once more.
What’s in a Name?
The beach was originally called Agios Georgios, meaning Saint George. When the Panagiotis wrecked in 1983 the beach was renamed Navagio (Greek: Ναυάγιο), translating to Shipwreck. Shipwreck Beach is commonly called Smugglers Cove by locals in tribute of the ship’s colourful legacy.
By: Elizabeth Dean – NICHE Magazine Spring 2013
