Ionian Islands

The Ionian Islands (Greek Ionia Nisia Ιόνια Νησιά, after the seven main islands also Eptanisa Επτάνησα, Seven Islands' ) are a group of islands in the Ionian Sea, which extends to the Peloponnese in the south front of the Greek west coast of Albania to the north. The northern islands form the present-day Greek region of Ionian Islands, the islands of Kythira and Andikythira belong to the Prefecture of Piraeus district of Attica.

History

Until 1797, the islands belonging to the Republic of Venice. After the conquest of Venice by Napoleon Bonaparte came under French rule and formed in 1800 by Russian- Ottoman protectorate of the Republic of the Ionian Islands, the first Greek state in modern times. From 1807-1814 they were again under Napoleonic rule, after the fall of Napoleon, the British took power over the first "United States of seven islands " mentioned territory. Under the British Protectorate to 1817, the domestic political autonomous " United States of the Ionian Islands " were formed. 1864 entered the Ionian Islands, after a vote in Parliament, the independent Greek state in 1830 in which they belong since then.

Culture

The Ionian Islands came only in 734 BC in the Greek culture. Later they formed the western boundary of the Eastern Roman Empire. During Venetian rule, it was a lively cultural exchange. The Venetian language was spoken until the 1950s.

The main islands

To the region Ionian Islands are

For the Peloponnese region include

For the Attica region in the Regional District of islands belong