Located on the north-west part of Zakynthos, Navagio Beach, previously known as Agios Georgios, became a ship graveyard when the MV Panagiotis washed up on its shores in October 1980.
Many theories and speculations arose about this shipwreck, most of them claim that the MV Panagiotis was a smuggler ship.
Some say that the ship was smuggling cigarettes and wine, when authorities caught up and cornered it until the cove, where it circled aground. Others, supporting the theory that the ship was indeed smuggling contraband cigarettes and booze, lost engine power and was simply washed ashore in the bay.
Another theory supports that the MV Panagiotis, transported smuggled cigarettes from the ports of Yugoslavia and Albania in order to send them to Italy. On this journey, the captain was forced to board two Italian smugglers. Rumor say that the captain was able to arrest and imprison the two Italians to exploit the smuggled goods for himself, but because of unexpected bad weather conditions, he was forced to ground the ship in the bay. And while he and his crew tried to salvage the cargo, part of it was carried away by the waves, bringing bounty to villagers who gathered and hid the goods.
Then the authorities came and arrested the captain and his crew who were convicted for smuggling, the Italians were deported back to their country, and the cargo was sold through an auction.
Whatever the truth is, the ship became a landmark of Zakynthos island, and made this beautiful beach known all over the world!
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