Zakynthos
Island in the
Ionian
Zakynthos, the southernmost of the Ionian Islands,
owes its name to the son of Dardanos, the king of Troy,
whom according to myth built the first city here. It is
also mentioned in "The Iliad". All who came to this
island fell under its spell. The Venetians baptized it
"the flower of the Orient" (Fior' di Levante). Others
gave it just as evocative names like "earthly paradise",
and "Perfumed isle", while Dionysios Solomos, the father
of modern Greek poetry and a native son, wrote,
"Zakynthos could make one forget the Elysian Fields".
No one who has been here can forget the emerald green of
its sea, its pine-studded mountains, its musical people
and their hospitality.
Zakynthos Town
The first thing to welcome you, as soon as you step
off the ferryboat, is the town of Zakynthos. Though it
lost all but three of its buildings in the earthquake of
1953, the town has been meticulously reconstructed and
its former layout has been faithfully preserved.
Zakynthos today has pleasantly arcade wide streets,
spacious squares, imposing buildings and cheerful
houses. The Museum of Post-Byzantine Art on Solomos
Square contains treasures salvaged from the islands
historic churches.
On the waterfront, one should visit the churches of
Agios Dionysios, the island's patron saint, with its
tall campanile, and of Agios Nikolas tou Molou, a church
out of the Italian Renaissance with, surprisingly, a
17th century Byzantine belfry.
If you walk along the flagstone coastal promenade, the
so-called Strata Marina between the two churches, at
dusk, you'll get the true flavour of the town. Sometimes
it seems as if the whole population is out enjoying the
ritual of the evening stroll. The street is lined with
small cafes and shops selling folk art.
Don't leave before tasting the famous Zakynthos
"mandolato" or nougat, it's a real treat.
The town Is watched over by the Venetian fortress on the
hill above. Only the gate, outer walls and battlements
still stand. But from this vantage point a spectacular
view can be had of the harbour, fertile inland plain and
beaches as far as the eye can see. Nearby is another
hill, the Lofos Strani where Solomos Dionysios composed
the famous, the father of modern Greek poetry "Hymn to
Liberty", which became the Greek National Anthem.
Sightseeing on the Island
Zakynthos is almost triangular in shape, with two
green mountainous promontories extending into the sea to
form the huge bay of Laganas. There are more
pine-covered mountains and hills in the north, but the
centre is gentle and lush, richly planted with currant
vines, olive trees, almonds and seasonal vegetables.
There are dozens of beaches to choose from, sandy and
sheltered with invitingly sparkling water. Flowers of
every kind fill every available space, filling the air
with the scent that so enraptured visitors of old.
With a sunny climate most of the year and good roads to
facilitate exploring, Zakynthos lends itself to
holiday-making in spring and fall as well as summer.
Some of the best known summer resorts are Argassi,
Alikes, Planos, Tsilivi, Vassilikos, Gerakas and Porto
Roma, while Laganas is the most famous of all. Its long
beach and wide range of facilities attract thousands of
tourists from May through September. At Laganas,
Vassilikos and Gerakas, the endangered sea turtle
Caretta-caretta also comes to lay her eggs.
Apart from its beaches,
Zakinthos has many other wonderful places to get to
know:
• The village of
Anafonitria, with its fascinating 15th century monastery
dedicated to the Virgin.
• Maherado, with its two
14th century churches, the half-ruined Ypapanti and the
sumptuously decorated Agia Mavra.
• The mountain village of
Keri, where sooner or later everyone goes to admire the
sunset and the stupendous view of the sea-caves below.
• Heading north, don't miss
Volimes or Skinari at the tip of the island. Volimes has
a wonderful Venetian tower and lovely old churches with
frescoes dating to the 12th and 14th centuries while
Skinari is where the famous Blue Caves are located.
Inside the caves, the refraction of the sun's rays on
the water creates an unbelievable array of blue
and silver tones of a dreamlike beauty.
• Further south is the cave
of Xingia, where there is a spring of sulphurous water
that bubbles up white, clouding the sea up to 500 meters
from shore.
http://www.greecebyclick.com/regions/ionian/zakynthos/index.cfm
Vacancies in
Zakynthos
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