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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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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