Lithakia: Olive Oil, History and Views

Lithakiá is shaped by a long tradition of olive pressing. At the Aristeon Oil Mill, surviving traces of traditional production meet modern technology; at Admiral Spyridon Souli Square, you’ll find the Faneromeni Church and sweeping views of the surrounding villages and Marathonisi. The area also has a theatrical tradition known as the “Omilies”, which dates back to the 18th century. These themes offer different points of reference as you consider which side of Zakynthos you’d like your holiday to revolve around.

Olive Oil History in Lithakiá

The traditional family-run Aristeon Oil Mill in Lithakiá has a history of olive pressing that began in 1850. Part of the traditional animal-powered press is still preserved today. At the Aristeon museum and factory complex, a step-by-step tour takes you through the production of olive oil, from an 18th-century wooden olive press to a modern two-phase centrifugal separator. Different chapters in the history of processing come together in one place. Visitors can also taste olive oil at the Aristeon Oil Mill. If you plan to take a guided tour or join a tasting, check the current visiting hours in advance.

The Aristeon Oil Mill is set among the olive groves of Lithakiá and marks the starting point of the approximately 19-kilometre Flavour Trail, established in 2020. The connection between the mill, the olive groves and the trail makes olive oil a theme you can explore not only through a press, but also through the surrounding landscape. Its approximate length can help you decide whether to include the trail as a separate part of your travel plans.

Village Traditions, Church and Views

The Faneromeni Church stands in Admiral Spyridon Souli Square. From the square, the view stretches across the surrounding villages and Marathonisi. Two different aspects of Lithakiá come together here: a cultural landmark and a sweeping view. The Faneromeni Church in Lithakiá should not be confused with the church of the same name in Zakynthos Town.

The Omilies are also part of the area’s cultural history. This traditional theatrical form in Lithakiá dates back to the 18th century. For families who enjoy exploring local customs and their history while travelling, this tradition offers a specific topic for conversation alongside a visit to the oil mill.

Discover More of Zakynthos

Beyond Lithakiá, the wider destination of Zakynthos offers other cultural and natural 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 the national poets Andreas Kalvos and Dionysios Solomos since 1968. These museums complement the local theatrical tradition with the island’s art and literary history.

Zakynthos’s landscape can also be explored through a range of features: the Blue Caves are in the Aspros Vrachos area at Cape Skinari. Lake Keri is a wetland protected under the Ramsar Convention, a Natura site and a nature reserve within the National Marine Park of Zakynthos. The Keri Lighthouse is known for panoramic sunset views over the Ionian Sea and the Myzithres rocks. The protected wetland and the view from the lighthouse offer two different nature experiences for you to weigh up as you plan your trip.

You’ll find more island attractions in Volimes: the Monastery of Agios Georgios sta Gremna was founded in 1535, and Zakynthian Ladotyri cheese is made there in dairies and home workshops and offered as a local product. The port of Agios Nikolaos in Volimes connects Zakynthos to Kefalonia by ferry; check the current timetable if you’d like to use this connection.

Which Accommodation Suits Your Travel Plans?

If olive oil history, village traditions and the view from the square are your main interests, you can choose Lithakiá as the starting point for your holiday rental search. This way, you can begin your search with the kind of holiday you want in mind, rather than with accommodation type alone.

Discover More Destinations

Discover more destinations: Fiolitis, Chartata, Askos, Marathias, Korithi, Keri, Bochali, Ampelokipoi.

Go to the main travel guide: Zakynthos.