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GENERAL INFO

The island of Zakynthos has actively contributed in the spiritual and artistic development of Greece. Important figures of the island influenced the physiognomy of the Greek state in all the areas of art and Literature. Since the ancient times, the island was an important cultural center, due to its geographical position.

Zakynthos
Zakynthos played an active part to the progress and development of the recent Greek civilization and in Greek society. The Venetian bondage, the commerce and its geographical position promoted its literary, artistic development and its activity.

This island made known in the area of poetry personalities like the national poet Dionysios Solomos, Andreas Kalvos and the novelist Gregorios Xenopoulos. Likewise, it brought in the 17th century to the area of painting, the famous Zakynthos' School.

Nevertheless, the love of Zakynthos' people it is and it will always be music and singing. The unique and famous - in all over the world - Zakynthos' serenade continues to fascinate and bewitch the people till today.

The traditional architecture gushes through its beauty numerous churches, its buildings, its picturesque arcades and its luxurious mansions. They are excellent earnests of folk architecture influenced by Renaissance and neoclassicism. Remarkable works of silver-sculpture and wood-sculpture are admirable and show the love of the people for the art. There are also some brilliant earnests of Byzantine and post-Byzantine hagiography. The diachronic tradition it is obvious in every alley and every building of the island.

Despite the fact that the town of Zakynthos was destroyed after the earthquake in 1953 and the conflagration that followed, it managed to keep till nowadays the glamour and the wealth it had. An important part played its cheery, optimistic and always friendly inhabitants with the love and the care that showed for their native land. In the old town are preserved some restored campaniles, the facade of a church, statues inlaid with gold, icons and wall paintings that the visitor may admire in the imposing building of the Byzantine Museum.

The third in size island of Ionian, eleventh in the entire Greece and the base of Ionian Islands, it is situated 14 miles south of Kefallonia and 10 miles east of Kyllini in Peloponnese. Together with the islets Strofades, constitute the prefecture of Zakynthos, which has an extent of 406 sq. km. and a coastline of 123 km.

Its inhabitants occupy mainly with agriculture and specifically with the cultivation of grape and plum. The last years with the tourism passed the 35.000. The mild climate with the many rainfalls, the moisture, the soft winters and the fresh summers transform the island into a flowery earthly heaven even in the most sterile places and it favors the cultivations.

The Zakynthos' town built under a verdurous hill, full of pines and next to the port, it looks fascinating as the visitor begin its wandering. Places that worth to visit is its picturesque alleys, its arcades, the imposing ruins of the Venetian castle, the historical church of Ayios Georgios of the members of "Filiki Eteria"in the Revolution of 1821 and the public library with more than 50.000 books.

City of Zakynthos


Near the town, there are also remarkable localities. One of them is the simple and historical hill of Strali where Dionysios Solomos listening to the cannons from the besieged Messologi, he wrote the "Hymn for the Liberty" which later was melodized by Mantzaros and became the national hymn of Greece. There is also the impressive red rock that named like this because of the homonymous novel of Gregorios Xenopoulos. Ending, the top of Skopos provides a unique view from the Byzantine temple with the wonderful mosaics.

Except for Zakynthos' town don't leave out from your visits the traditional villages of the island as the Kato and Ano Volimes that they are famed for its textiles and broideries and the noted Blue Grotto, which is compared to the homonymous cave in Kapri. There is also the little port of Ayios Nikolaos (from there set sail the boats for the visit of the Blue Cave), Maherado with the astonishing church of Ayia Mavra and Orthonies with the picturesque stone houses. The most beautiful landscape of Zakynthos it is maybe the Navagio (= shipwreck). You can visit it by car or you can leave it and continue on foot or you can use the boats from the Zakynthos' town or Laganas.

There are also: the verdurous landscape in the lake of Keri with the bewitching caves, the picturesque resort Vasilikos, the beach Tsilivi and Gerakari with the curative sulfurous springs.

Zakynthos
The beach Alikes (length 2 km.) with the beautiful sand, the shallow and clear sea and Kalamaki, which is one more tourist area of the island. The wide bay of Laganas, still and picturesque, it's got a huge and unique sandy beach, which is large, shallow and clear, ideal for swimming.

In Arpia - islet from Strofades - it is situated the monastery of Metamorphosis which belongs to Ayios Dionysios. It dates from the 13th century and it looks like a fort. This islet is a place for the hunting of turtledove, especially in spring. The coats of Zakynthos with the dreamy sandy beaches, the bewitching deep blue and some other times green-blue clear waters in combination with the flowery landscapes will lead you in its waves for a play with the sea, leaving you after, with the best memories. Every beach has its own characteristic remaining identical after the arrival of the thousands of tourists that come every summer.


Before leaving the island, don't forget to taste of the local recipes and especially the traditional "ladotiri" (= oil cheese) and the local wine that's called Verdea, famous for its unique flavour and the best nougats in Greece, as well. The island is also famous for the Zakynthos' eau de cologne, the Bougarini and the production of powder. These products you can still find them in stores and the flowers Grantouka in almost every yard of the island. The residence in the island is pleasant and easy since there are many luxurious hotels that offer many comforts as air condition, pool, organized beaches, aquatic sports, tennis, restaurants and night clubs.

There are many rooms-to-let and for those who love the natural life there are campings in Tragaki, Laganas, Lithakia and Gerakari. The food is plenty and unique in every place of the island with the innumerable taverns and the luxurious restaurants that offer to the visitor the possibility to taste and choose not only the local recipes but almost the entire Greek and International cuisine. Concerning music and especially the traditional "ladotiri" (= oil cheese) and the local wine that's called Verdea, famous for its unique flavour and the best nougats in Greece, as well. The island is also famous for the Zakynthos' eau de cologne, the Bougarini and the production of powder. These products you can still find them in stores and the flowers Grantouka in almost every yard of the island. The residence in the island is pleasant and easy since there are many luxurious hotels that offer many comforts as air condition, pool, organized beaches, aquatic sports, tennis, restaurants and night clubs.

There are many rooms-to-let and for those who love the natural life there are campings in Tragaki, Laganas, Lithakia and Gerakari. The food is plenty and unique in every place of the island with the innumerable taverns and ">Διαδρομές|
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