Ionian Islands

Ionian Islands Ιόνιοι Νήσοι Iónioi Nísoi
Traditional region of Greece
Cape Drastis (Corfu)
Coordinates: 37°48′N 20°42′E / 37.800°N 20.700°E / 37.800; 20.700
Country	Greece
Cession	1864
Capital	Corfu
Islands	List Corfu Ithaca Kefalonia Kythira Lefkada Paxi Zakynthos
Area
• Total	2,306.94 km2 (890.71 sq mi)
Population  (2011)[1]
• Total	207,855
• Density	90/km2 (230/sq mi)
Demonym(s)	Heptanesian, Septinsular
Time zone	UTC+2 (EET)
• Summer (DST)	UTC+3 (EEST)
ISO 3166 code	GR-F
Website	www.pin.gov.gr

The Ionian Islands (Modern Greek: Ιόνια νησιά, Ionia nisia; Ancient Greek, Katharevousa: Ἰόνιαι Νῆσοι, Ioniai Nēsoi) are a group of islands in the Ionian Sea, west of mainland Greece. They are traditionally called the Heptanese ("Seven Islands"; Ἑπτάνησα, Heptanēsa or Ἑπτάνησος, Heptanēsos; Italian: Eptaneso), but the group includes many smaller islands in addition to the seven principal ones.

As a distinct historic region, they date to the centuries-long Venetian rule, which preserved them from the Muslim conquests of the Ottoman Empire, and created a distinct cultural identity with many Italian influences. The Ionian Islands became part of the modern Greek state in 1864. Administratively today, they belong to the Ionian Islands Region except for Kythera, which belongs to the Attica Region.