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Many are those who, travelling to discover new destinations, are attracted by the beaches. Greece is one of those destinations that contains beaches for all tastes: but few are as curious as the Greek Navagio, one-of-a-kind.
Commonly known as “shipwreck beach”, as the name seems to suggest, this small beach in Zakynthos is linked to a shipwreck that made it famous all over the world. It is, in fact, one of the most photographed places on the planet, although it is difficult to reach, unsafe and risky for those who wish to venture there. What is the curious story related to this beach?
The sinking of the MV Panagiotis
The fame of the paradisiacal Greek beach is linked to rather recent events. In fact, we must go back “only” 43 years, to the night between 1 and 2 October 1980, when what would make this small and unreachable part of Zakynthos famous in the years to come took place.
The protagonist of the story is the MV Panagiotis, a cargo ship built in Scotland but, at the time of the shipwreck, flying the Greek flag. The boat, as explained by her captain, found itself in the middle of a big storm: to protect it, it was chosen to take it towards the bay then known as Agios Georgios. But the ship was not lucky: she ran aground in a shoal, which escaped the eyes of the crew because of the bad weather, thus it was not possible to free her.
But the unfortunate story of the Panagiotis has more versions. It was believed for a long time, and partly still today, that the ship was carrying a cargo of contraband: most speak of cigarettes, illegally traded from Turkey to Italy; some others, in a more “dark” version of the story, even speak of a human load.
In this version of the story, the Panagiotis was running away from the Greek coastguard, who sensed something was wrong with the vessel. The ship encountered anyway a storm: trying to take advantage of the bad weather, the vessel chose the beach of Agios Georgios to hide from the military, but stranded during the night. This theory would be supported by some testimonies that, in the following years, saw cartons of cigarettes sold on the island at competitive prices.
Regardless of the version that visitors tend to believe, there were various consequences: first of all, the ship, no longer movable, was abandoned by the crew, still remaining in the same position today, adding to the other famous wrecks that can be visited in Greece, such as that of HMHS Britannic.
This stranding, according to some sources, would have produced the undertow that would have given life to the magnificent beach which, today, precisely, is known as “of the wreck” or, in a more curious version, as “Smugglers Cove”.
The Panagiotis wreck. Credits: Dimitris Mourousiadis.
Navagio, “instagrammable” but dangerous beach
This curious beach, of course, had a significant effect on tourism towards the island of Zakynthos, so that many were those who were led to think that the shipwreck was actually a hoax of the local Ministry of Tourism, created specifically to attract visitors. This conspiracy, however, was immediately denied by those directly involved, who explained that this idea was not only unethical, but also that such once-in-a-lifetime events were impossible to create on purpose.
Today, with the non-stop development of social media, seekers of the beautiful and of the “instagrammable” are drawn to this location. However, there are numerous dangers: just think of the viewpoint suspended over the void, from which the authorities themselves advise to stay away, due to the fragility of the rocks. The same fragility can be found in different parts of the beach, making this place used to different accidents.
The motorship itself is a danger to tourists: it is strongly discouraged to enter it, as the long years have made it fragile, with a high risk of subsidence. The waters of the bay, although warm and sulphurous, are full of boats, the only way to reach the beach: it is not recommended to swim there, due to the high risk of injury with the boats’ propellers.
All these dangers have prompted the authorities to adopt harsh measures: a first landslide had the beach already close in 2018. In 2023, following several seismic events that affected the area, with consequent landslides, it was decided to close it again, allowing only the approach of the boats, without being able to walk on the beach or swim. Navagio, however, remains a paradisiacal place, with a curious but attractive history: a destination which, like others in the Mediterranean, makes it unique of its kind.
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