Maries Tourist Centre

The village of Maries is situated on top of a green hill, with a magnificent view of the Ionian Sea and the sunset. The quiet mountain village consists of a square, a beautiful 15th century church and traditional stone houses and narrow streets. The inhabitants of Maries, of whom there are about 400, live mainly by agriculture and farming. However, there are also several shops where local produce can be bought, tavernas serving typical Greek food and accommodation in the village is mainly private apartments and rooms for rent.

Legend has it that the small village was visited by both Mary Magdalene and Mary of Klopas, hence the name Maries. Mary Magdalene's ship docked in Porto Vromi around 34 AD to spread the gospel of Jesus Christ. On one of the rocks on the shore is a footprint believed to belong to Mary Magdalene. A 15th-century three-aisled church in the village was dedicated to St Mary Magdalene and festivals are held in her honour in the summer.

From the resort of Maries, it is easy to reach the bay and the beach of Porto Vromi (about 7 km) and to join a boat trip heading to the beach of Navagio with its shipwreck and the blue caves, very popular tourist destinations of Zakynthos. The beach and the entire Porto Vromi bay (sometimes also referred to as Maries beach) is also a very beautiful stop on boat trips. Boats come here and those interested can take a dip at the nice pebble beach here. For diving enthusiasts we can recommend the nearby bay with the beach of Porto Stenitis (about 6 km).

For whom is Maries suitable

The small resort of Maries is hidden in the mountains in the northwestern part of Zakynthos, on the road between the smaller resorts of Exo Chora and Anafonitria. It is about 26 km away from the main town of Zante and lies outside the main tourist centres of the island. We can recommend a stay in the mountain village of Maries to tourists who want to experience the traditional way of life of the Greek people and their affection and openness, traditional Greek food and the beautiful nature of Zakynthos.

The west coast of the island is mostly rocky and forms very interesting rock formations, the village is not far from the bay and the pebble beach of Porto Vromi or the bay and the rocky beach of Porto Stenitis. This is a very quiet area of the island, and from the village of Maries and the nearby beaches, a beautiful sunset can be observed.

More touristic destinations of Zakynthos

Close resorts: Anafonitria, Exo Chora

Most favourite resorts of Zakynthos: Agios Nikolaos, Agios Sostis, Alykes, Argassi, Kalamaki, Laganas, Limni Keri, Zakynthos Town (Chora), Tsilivi, Vassilikos

Resorts, beaches, sights or trips - clearly listed on the map of Zakynthos.