It is one of the most photographed photographic motifs in Greece: Navagio Beach, on the island of Zakynthos, in the Ionian Sea. Framed by high cliffs, the bay with its fine white pebbles and crystalline waters is a popular bathing paradise. It can get really crowded here in the middle of summer. But this summer, the beach of dreams must remain deserted. The bay is closed to all visitors by decision of the Greek Ministry of Tourism – entry prohibited! The ministry followed a recommendation from the National Earthquake Preparedness Authority (Oasp) with the closure.
risk
The reason for the ban: after several landslides on Navagio beach in recent years, in which bathers were injured, authorities fear for the safety of visitors. In March, experts from the earthquake authority, led by its chief Efthymios Lekkas, surveyed the bay. They came to the conclusion that there is a significant risk of further rockfalls on the cliff faces.
Navagio (Shipwreck) Bay takes its name from the rusting remains of the small freighter “Panagiotis” that ran aground here on 2 October 1983 in a storm. There are many stories about the accident. The “Panagiotis” is said to have been en route from Turkey to Italy with a cargo of smuggled cigarettes when the engine failed at Zakynthos and the rudderless vessel washed ashore. The rusted shipwreck is now one of Zakynthos’ biggest tourist attractions.
But there are dangers lurking on the beach of dreams. On September 13, 2018, large masses of rock suddenly broke away from the cliffs, fell onto the beach and into the waters of the bay (see video). Hundreds of bathers were on the beach at the time of the accident. Miraculously, no one was buried. Seven people suffered injuries. The tidal wave triggered by falling rocks would capsize some pleasure boats in the bay.
After the incident, the beach was closed until April 2019 and then reopened under certain conditions: Large parts of the bay were closed. At the end of 2021, the Athens Ministry of Tourism took responsibility for the beach to ensure the safety of visitors and the preservation of the wreckage. But the next incident was not long in coming: in September last year, during an earthquake, large stones fell from the rocks onto the beach. Earthquake authority geologists have now examined the stability of the cliff in detail. They fear more rockfalls – hence the closure.
Boats can come but not land
Tour boats can still make a stopover in the bay, which can only be accessed by water, but they no longer allow passengers to disembark. Many local tourism entrepreneurs and local politicians are unhappy with the decision because it means Zakynthos has one less attraction. But the Minister of Tourism, Vassilis Kikilias, maintains the ban: “As Minister of Tourism, I am the last person to want to close the beach. But it would be frivolous to ignore the experts’ recommendations and put the lives of visitors at risk.”