One of the Iptane Islands is Zakynthos, also known as "Zade" or Fioro of the Levant to the Venetians. It is the third-largest and second-most-inhabited island in the Ionian Islands and the eleventh-largest island in Greece. There are 41,180 people living there, spread across an area of 406 square kilometers.
Zakynthos is shaped like an uneven triangle; the northernmost point of the island ends at Cape Skinari, while the bay of Laganas forms in the south-southeast between the capes of Gerakas, also known as Geraki, to the east and Marathia to the west. Three islands, Marathonisi, Agios Sostis, and Pelouso, are located in the Bay of Laganas; the Strofades islands are located 37 nautical miles to the south of Laganas.
The island of Zakynthos, which has both vast rocky coastlines and golden beaches, enjoys a temperate Mediterranean climate with warm winters and pleasant summers. The abundant winter precipitation encourages the establishment of dense flora and ensures an impressive water resource.
Beaches of Zakynthos:
Navagio
On September 30, 1982, the merchant ship "Panagiotis" was involved in an accident. The ship was owned by a Kefalonian who was smuggling cigarettes from ports in Yugoslavia, Turkey, and Albania to Italy via small boats. The ship involved in the September 30 incident was loaded with illicit goods, including duty-free cigarette boxes.
When the ship veered off course and ended up on the rocks of Zakynthos, it was due to poor weather and a malfunctioning engine.
Paralia Porto Limonias
This horseshoe-shaped rocky inlet is perfect for diving, snorkeling, and daring cave excursions.
It can only be reached by boat.
Sun loungers with a view of the sea are available for rent from nearby eateries. Shipwreck Cove may be reached by boat from a number of the island's settlements.
Gerakas
Because to its unparalleled features and blue waves, Gerakas is regarded as one of Zakynthos' most appealing beaches. It is located 18 km south of Zakynthos town and offers a refuge for the endangered Caretta-Caretta sea turtle
You can rent a number of sunbeds and umbrellas, but you are not permitted to use your own since you might unintentionally harm a turtle nest. The beach is situated in a narrow cove, and a significant portion of it is covered in clay, which is also unsuitable for usage due to environmental concerns.
MYTHOLOGY
Another theory holds that the Arcades existed in the first millennium before Christ arrived on the island with the intention of founding new colonies, and evidence of the inhabitants' musical talent and the cult of the goddess Artemis, which is characteristic of Arcadia, support these origins. The Arcades also established the colony of Zakanta on the Spanish coast, which flourished for over a millennium until 218 BC. When destroyed by Hanibal.
Later, Zakynthos became the dominion of Arkisios, King of Katalonia, and was ruled by Odysseus, King of Ithaca. Zakynthos, along with the other lands controlled by Odysseus, participated in the Trojan War, with 12 war boats mentioned in Homer's Iliad. Odysseus returned to Ithaca following the Trojan War, and there was the legendary killing of Penelope's pretenders, including 20 young people from Zakynthos.
Before the Romans dominance, Zakynthos remained neutral during the Persian wars, was with the Athenians during the Peloponnesos war, and was next subdued by the Macedonians.
The Romans were the first actual, historical conquerors. After the Roman Empire fell to Zakynthos, the Ionian islands and colonies along the Western Mediterranean coast experienced decades of uncertainty, including numerous invasions by Constantine the Great.
At 1809, the British arrived at Zakynthos with a large army and established it as the capital of the Ionian State. The first benefits from the British were public assistance and the establishment of the first typography on the island.
Greece's independence from Turkey encouraged the emergence of a radical movement in the Ionian islands, which fought the British for years in order to join Greece and be free of foreign control.Zante and the Ionian islands joined Greece in 1864.
BYZANTINE MUSEUM
It is in Dionysios Solomos Square the largest and most charming of the island that after the earthquakes in 1953 is now getting back to its original charm. The museum that for the first tine was open to the public in 1960 is on three levels. In the first two rooms the visitor can admire Byzantine icons carved in the wood whereas in the third and fourth rooms are dedicated to paintings of 15th 16th and 17th century.`Two more rooms are dedicated to paintings of the 18th century and oils on canvas.
Museum of Dionysios Solomos and Andreas Kalvos. The museum was founded in 1959 by a club of admirers of the fine arts of Zakynthos. It is located in the striking St Marco Square and it is very famous since it keeps the relic of the two poets Dionysios Solomos and Andreas Kalvos real national symbols.
In the museum there are local art handicrafts such as paintings of the 18th and 19th century carved pottery sculptures and ancient musical instruments the section dedicated to clothes and weapons of noble families of the last century.
Helmis Museum of Natural History is housed in a beautiful traditional building and its collections include specimens from the flora and fauna of the Zakynthos nature like rocks and minerals plant and animal fossils, shells, fishes and birds.
The Milanio Naval Museum is located in the tourist area of Tsilivi.
Cultural and Agricultural Museum.
Founded in 1998 in the small village of Pigadakia under the township of Alykes, it exhibits the culture and traditions of the Greek rural world typical of this island. There, you can admire rare works dated back to the 16th century, such as working tools.
Everyday tools and very rare works of ancient local handcraft. The museum is a recreation of a traditional house with a living room, kitchen, and bedroom furnished with traditional furniture. Outside, there is also agricultural machinery used for grinding grain and pressing grapes and olives.
ΣΤ DIONYDIOS CHURCH.
This church the biggest in the city is dedicated to the patron saint of the island. It was built in 1925; its bell tower is very high and stands out among the different buildings, recognizable as soon as you enter the port. You will be impressed by the quantity of frescoes,lamp holders, and colors.
ST.NICHOLAS OF THE MOLE.
This church located in Solomos Square is the only building of Venetian style that survived the earthquake in 1953 and has been restored keeping its original characteristics .Originally the church had been built on an island connected to the mainland by a bridge. Then the island joined the city. For many centuries it belonged to the Sailors Corporation.
Dated back to the 17th century it is the most ancient building in Solomos Square and it was built in renaissance style with the exception of the bell tower that is more byzantine. Inside there are the liturgical ornaments of Saint Dionysios who for a period in his life gave his services to this church.
ST.MARKOS CHURCH
Very small it is the only catholic church of the island.Next to the Museum of Solomos and Kalvos. There are many monuments to remind distinguishes personalities of the past born or who lived in Zakynthos. Among those there is the statue of the national poet Dionysios Solomos .
On its base it is engraved a line of his poem ‘Hymn to Freedom’ the statue representing the Glory to which the national poet is adressing his poems is flanked at both sides by two cannons and the style that remembers the writings of Andreas Kalvos.
To remember Ugo Foscolo the famous italian poet born in Zante in 1778 there is a bust in Solomos Square that has been dedicated to him. It is also possible to see the cenotaph of Foscolo with the statue of the ‘Weaping Angel. Then on the Strane hill at the back of the city there is another bust of Solomos and it is said that the poet used to find peace here and that the incomparable view inspired his compositions.
It is also possible to admire the commemorative stele of the patriotic secret society ‘Filiki Eteria’ that fought to free Greece from the foreign domination. Mild mediterranean climate and the plentifull winter rainfall endow the island with dense vegetation. The principal agricultural products are olive oil, currants,grapes and citrus fruit. The bay of Laganas is the site of the first National Marine Park and the prime nesting area for loggerhead sea turtles Caretta-Caretta.
The Architecture
Zakynthian architecture is highly influenced by the Venetian style. There are also a lot of Byzantine and Neoclassical influences as well as Gothic architecture mainly found arround the island mainly bell towers . Distinctive to the Zakynthian architecture are also the traditional stone houses featuring wood and tile made roofs sculpted decorative pieces above doorways and windows and iron staircases balcony rails and gates.
Zakynthos is famous for its well known kandadas the distinctive polyphonic songs accompanied by mandolin and quitar often based on improvised lyrics.Even though the style is reminiscent of the Venetian arias, kandates are unique to the Ionian and especially to Zakynthos and Kefalonia. The first music School was established on the island in 1815.Opera was also developed on the island combining the two arts of music and theatre.
Zakynthos is also well known for its traditional caramics ,pottery,lace, weavings, carvings and paintings found around the many villages of the island and sold by the locals. The Eptanesian School of Art was founded in Zakynthos which is famous for its grate tradition in hierography ,portraits and landscapes inspired by the natural beauty of the island.
ASKOS PARK
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