The Red Houses of Zakynthos
WHY YOU’ LL LOVE IT
Scattered mostly around the island’s mountain villages, only a handful of “red houses” still survive; the largest and most beautiful of them, on the main street of the village of Exohora, is a favorite with tourists.
Attractions
The Red Houses of Zakynthos
Scattered mostly around the island’s mountain villages, only a handful of “red houses” still survive; the largest and most beautiful of them, on the main street of the village of Exohora, is a favorite with tourists.
The red color of the houses is due to the “mud” left over from pressing red grapes, especially the local dark red variety “Avgoustiatis.” The mud was mixed with horse manure and added to the plaster used to waterproof the outer walls in order to protect houses from the rain that falls incessantly from October to May. The color deepened over the years giving these rustic houses their unique look, not encountered on any other Ionian island.