Γαλαζια Σπιλια

Galázia Spiliá - Korithi Cave - Caves of Keri


Useful Information

photography
Kamares of Marathia, Zakynthos, Greece. Public Domain.
Location: Northern end of the island Zakynthos, near Korthi/Keri. Boats to the cave start at the harbour of Agios Nikolaos.
Open: no restrictions.
[2020]
Fee: free.
[2020]
Classification: SpeleologyKarst cave Speleologysea cave ExplainBlue Grotto
Light: no
Dimension:  
Guided tours:  
Photography: allowed
Accessibility: no
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History


Description

photography
Megali Spilia (Big Cave) and Mikri Spilia (Small Cave), Zakynthos, Greece. Public Domain.
photography
Blue Grotto of Korithi, Zakynthos, Greece. Public Domain.

The Blue Grotto of Korithi is a highlight of the island Zakynthos. It is a postcard motive, sold all over the Ionian Islands, and even on the mainland of Greece. Rather strange is the fact, that many of the postcards do not even tell the motive, and if they do, the cave itself is not visible. The cave is a sea cave, nearly invisible at the foot of a steep cliff. And the surrounding landscape is marvellous: white limestone cliffs, white beaches, and the blue sea. So the postcards show the white cliffs and the beach, but not the cave.

The cave is located only a few hundred meters south east of the northern cape of Zakynthos, Cape Skinari. It is only one kilometre from Korithi, but is is very difficult to reach from this village. The normal way to visit the cave is by boat from Agios Nikolaos.

There are many Blue Grottoes in the world, three of them in Greece. The reason is always the same: the partly water filled cave has a connection to the sea. Sunlight entering the cave through the water gives the cave a mystic blue shine as the water filters the light and lets only the blueish components into the cave. The light shows all shades from emerald green to turquoise blue.

To be exact there are two caves, very close. Megali Spilia (Big Cave) and Mikri Spilia (Small Cave). They seem to be the last remains of a karst cave, which formed in the limestone and is now destroyed by the continuous work of the sea. As always in such cases, the original karst cave was much smaller and was widened by the breakers.

Nearby are natural bridges called Kamares of Marathia. The boats to the Blue Grotto pass the arches. The beaches around the caves are protected, as they are a place where the endangered species of the Careta careta turtle lays its eggs. It is not allowed to make noise or stay overnight.