Keri on Zakynthos: Lake, Church and Caves

Kerí combines a protected wetland with a church, an archaeological site and caves in the surrounding area. Its attractions range from the marshy landscape of Lake Keri to local traditions surrounding the Panagia Keriotissa Church. This makes it possible to discover the area through both nature and history, without every outing focusing on the same kind of experience.

Lake Keri and its protected landscape

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 National Marine Park. Its protected status and landscape go hand in hand: visitors interested in nature and wetlands will find Kerí a practical starting point for this focus of their trip.

Church and Mycenaean tomb

The Panagia Keriotissa Church in Kerí was built in the early 17th century in honour of an icon of the Virgin Mary that had been found in the village. According to local tradition, the icon saved Kerí from a raid by Barbary pirates. The church was renovated in 1745. Its history links a named site in the village with a local religious tradition that credits the icon with saving the village.

Northeast of the village, in Paliό Kerí on a slope above a ravine, stands a masonry Mycenaean tholos tomb. Its architectural features include a monolithic lintel and a gabled roof. The church and the tomb offer different ways to explore history: one through a religious tradition and a structure from the Mycenaean period, the other through a specific local tradition and its church.

The Keri Caves at Cape Marathia

The Keri Caves near Cape Marathia are on the southwest side of the island. They can be reached by private boat or as part of an organised excursion. The entrances vary: some are suitable only for swimming into, while others are large enough for a boat to enter directly. These differences are a useful guide when considering whether a cave excursion suits the kind of holiday you want.

More discoveries on Zakynthos

The wider destination of Zakynthos also offers its own cultural attractions. 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. On the ground floor of the Museum of Solomos and Eminent Zakynthians, a mausoleum has housed the remains of the national poets Andreas Kalvos and Dionysios Solomos since 1968. The two museums thus offer different points of interest in art and history.

Other island highlights include the Blue Caves in the Aspros Vrachos area at Cape Skinari and the Monastery of Agios Georgios sta Gremna in Volimes, founded in 1535. Across the wider destination of Zakynthos, the Keri Lighthouse is known for panoramic views of the Ionian Sea and the Myzithres rocks at sunset. In this way, natural sites, a monastery and a viewpoint combine with Kerí’s local character on Zakynthos.

In Volimes, Zakynthian Ladotyri cheese is made in cheese dairies and home workshops and sold as a local product. Also in Volimes is the port of Agios Nikolaos: it is a seaport gateway and connects Zakynthos to Kefalonia by ferry. If this connection is important for your travel plans, check the timetable for your travel dates.

Choosing the right focus for your accommodation search

When looking for a holiday apartment, you can first consider whether Kerí’s protected landscape, local history and caves should shape your stay, or whether you would like to include other aspects of the wider Zakynthos destination. Kerí’s specific features and the island’s wider attractions offer different points of reference for this decision. Base your choice on the experiences that matter most to you on your trip.

Discover more destinations: Kipseli, Tragaki, Kampíon, Agios Kirikos, Anafonitria, Zakynthos Town, Chartata, Alykes.

Go to the wider travel overview: Zakynthos.