The Ionian Islands, part of the Byzantine Empire until 1204, fell into Venetian hands escaping in this way from the Turkish occupation. The European influence of the Venetian occupation is evident in the local architecture, while its traces can be seen in the numerous religious monuments of the area. At the Ionian Islands we encounter some of the most important pilgrimages of Greece, such as Agios Spyrifon in Corfu, Agios Gerasimos in Kefalonia and Agios Dionysios in Zakynthos.