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Navagio Beach (Greek: Ναυάγιο), or the Shipwreck, is an isolated sandy cove on Zakynthos island and one of the most famous beaches in Greece. It is notable because it is home to the wreck of the alleged smuggler ship Panagiotis; thus, it is often referred to as 'Smugglers Cove'.

The Panagiotis (Greek: Παναγιώτης) is a picturesque shipwreck lying in the white sands of an exposed cove on the coast of Zakynthos (Zante), which is among the southern-most of the Ionian Islands of Greece. Navagio ("Shipwreck"), the spot where she lies, is a valued tourist attraction on the north-western side of the island, accommodating thousands of visitors each year.

A Coastal trading vessel, or Coaster, the Panagiotis was built in 1937 in Glasgow by Scotts Bowling, Yard 341, for the J. & A. Gardner and Co. Ltd. shipping company, and fitted with engines made by British Auxiliaries Ltd. At her launch, she measured 163 feet in length and 26 feet in width. She had a draft of just over 11 feet, and a gross register tonnage of 452. As a Coaster, her primary use was in the transportation of trade cargo through local, shallow waters. Her eventual use in the smuggling of goods may have led to her downfall in the early 1980s.

The most commonly accepted story regarding the wreck of the Panagiotis maintains that she spent the later part of her life as a smuggler ship. In 1980 (during a time of record population lows on the island of Zakynthos), Panagiotis was making her way from Turkey with a freight of contraband cigarettes (for the Italian Mafia, as some versions of the story assert). The crew was suspected by authorities, and so the Panagiotis was pursued by the Greek Navy. Encountering stormy weather, she ran aground in a shallow cove to the north of Porto Vromi, where the crew abandoned ship to evade the pursuing Navy. To this day, she remains at the site which is now called "Navagio" for the Greek "shipwreck."



Navagio is located on the north-west shore of the Ionian island of Zakynthos (Zante), in the Municipality of Elation. The area is defined by its sheer limestone cliffs, white sand beaches, and clear blue water, which attract thousands of tourists yearly.
Its approximate coordinates are 37°51′28″N 20°37′36″E / 37.85778°N 20.62667°E / 37.85778; 20.62667.
The strip of beach is accessed only by boat, from Porto Vromi to the south, and from the Harbor of Saint Nikolas in Volimes to the north-east. More typically, boats arrive from the harbor of Zakynthos, the capital city, with cruises and tours anchoring hourly at Navagio.

This island is one of Greece's icons and is considered one of the best beaches in the world.


* Info from Wikipedia *


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