A town that some argue is the most beautiful in the world sits in the middle of a lagoon and can only be accessed by two bridges.
The fishing village of Aitoliko in Akarnania, Greece is an immensely tranquil settlement that is surrounding by a stunning landscape of lagoons that are teeming with wildlife.
Situated in the middle of Messolongi archipelago, the town has become known as the Little Venice of Greece, due to the many water ways which surround its centre, the Daily Express reported.
One of the island's most distinctive features is the vast network of canals that are criss-crossed by a network of bridges that provide passage to the 1,200 people who live there.
They also serve as part of the town's flood control defences during times of heavy rain and provide a habitat for a variety of fish and bird species.
The southern lagoon periodically empties into the Ionian Sea, completely changing the landscape and opening up the walkable land in Aitoliko considerably.
The Mesolongi-Aitoliko Lagoon National Park is based around one of the largest lagoons on the Mediterranean Sea and the most extensive delta in Greece. In most parts the water rises to just 1.5m, meaning brave swimmers can wade deep into it.
A large part of the area is protected by a hunting ban which has allowed the natural life there to flourish. Today it boasts a diverse range of plant and animal life, with a notable abundance of 290 bird species and more than 100 types of fish.
The island is perfect for exploring on foot because of its tiny size and lack of traffic, with tourists and locals squeezing shoulder to shoulder down the town's network of bridges and walkways.
The Missolonghi Lagoon, once known as Lake Kynia in ancient times, is located to the south of the Aitoliko Lagoon, which stretches towards Stamna.
Aitoliko Island features a variety of historic structures and landmarks in addition to its canals and walks.
The Church of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary, a magnificent 17th-century church with elaborate murals, is located on the island's main plaza.
From the top of the church's bell tower tourists can get an understanding of the how the town is constructed and how extensive the waterways are.
The ruins of a Venetian castle and what remains of an ancient amphitheatre built into the rocky hillside about three miles from the centre of Aitoliko are well worth a visit.
A pleasant afternoon can also be spent with an ice cream in hand wandering between the town's traditional homes, distinguished by their distinctive red-tiled roofs.
As small as it may be population wise, Aitoliko has a long and storied history, having made an important contribution to the Greek War of Independence against the Ottoman Empire at the beginning of the 19th century.
The town was subjected to three Turkish sieges before joining Greece. Just 500 Greek soldiers fought 15,000 Turkish troops during the first of three sieges.
Today it is a much more peaceful place happy to welcome the thousands of tourists and birds that fly in every summer. The closet major airport that connects to the UK is Pathas, although it may be cheaper to fly to Athens and then travel across the southern tip of Greece.
