Agios Leon: Olive Oil, Weaving and Church Architecture

Olive oil, weaving and a church with a long history give Agios Leon several distinctive features. Nearby, the rocky cove of Porto Limnionas adds a contrasting landscape. If you are looking for a holiday rental, you can first weigh up whether you want to focus on local production and culture or also include a range of destinations elsewhere on Zakynthos.

Olive oil: seasonal tours and tastings

Vouno Olive Press produces extra virgin olive oil. From May to October, it offers tours of its facilities and tastings of its products; a seasonal exhibition is also part of the programme. Production and the visitor programme offer two different perspectives on olive oil: the product is the result of the work, while the tour and tasting provide insights into the facilities and products. Since these offerings are seasonal and current operations should be checked before your trip, it is best to ask whether tours, the exhibition and tastings will be available on your travel dates.

Church and weaving

The Church of Saint Leon in Áyios Léon was founded in the 14th century and is a single-nave basilica. “Single-nave” describes a church building with a single nave; the term provides a specific architectural classification alongside the historical date. This brings two distinct perspectives together: the history of its founding and its architectural form.

Anemidi is a family-run business in Áyios Léon, where Panagiota makes many items by hand on a loom. Its products include handwoven textiles, dream catchers and driftwood creations. “Anemidi” refers to a specific part of traditional weaving equipment. This name gives the products a specific connection to weaving, while the items themselves showcase a variety of materials and forms. If you are interested in architecture or craftsmanship, the church and Anemidi offer different highlights within the village.

Rocky cove and local cheese

Porto Limnionas is 6 km from Áyios Léon and is a rocky cove. Its landscape offers a different focus from the village’s cultural and production themes: here the rocky cove takes centre stage, while the church, loom and olive press are about architectural history, craftsmanship and production. Bastas Cheesery is just outside Áyios Léon. It produces Ladotyri, Ladograviera, Graviera and Prentza, as well as small quantities of white brined cheese (feta). The product range may change. Together with the olive oil, this creates another culinary highlight in the area; if you are interested in local produce, you can include both producers in your plans.

Zakynthos in the broader travel picture

Zakynthos has other nature and cultural attractions that broaden the picture beyond Agios Leon. The Blue Caves are in the Aspros Vrachos area at Cape Skinari. Lake Keri is a wetland protected under the Ramsar Convention, a Natura area and a nature reserve within the Zakynthos National Marine Park. Those interested in culture will also find a range of highlights on Zakynthos: the Museum of Zakynthos displays works from the Cretan School, Cretan-Ionian icons and works of Ionian naturalism from the 15th to the 19th century. At the Museum of Solomos and Eminent Zakynthians, the mausoleum has housed the remains of national poets Andreas Kalvos and Dionysios Solomos since 1968. These examples range from protected natural areas to art and literary heritage.

When searching for a holiday rental, you can therefore weigh up whether Agios Leon, with its olive oil, weaving and church architecture, should be the focus, or whether other nature and cultural destinations on Zakynthos should shape your itinerary.

Discover more destinations

Discover more destinations: Marathias, Chartata, Laganas, Vasilikos, Fiolitis, Kallithea, Agios Kirikos, Volímai.

Back to the broader travel overview: Zakynthos.