Zakynthos , also
Zante, the other form often used in
English and in
Italian (
Greek:
Ζάκυνθος;
Venetian:
Zacinto), is the third largest of the
Ionian Islands. It covers an area of 410 km
2 (158 sq mi) and its coastline is roughly 123 km (76 mi) in length. The island is named after
Zakynthos, the son of a legendary Arcadian chief
Dardanus. The name, like all similar names ending in -nthos, is pre-Mycenaean or
Pelasgian in origin. Zakynthos has a thriving tourism industry.
History
Flag of Zakynthos, depicting an ancient depiction of the founding hero Zákynthos. The quote underneath reads: "
Freedom requires virtue and bravery", a famous verse by 19th century Zakynthian poet
Andreas Kalvos.
Zakynthos was inhabited from the
Neolithic Age, as some
archaeological excavations have proved.
The famous ancient Greek poet and writer,
Homer, first mentioned the island in his masterpieces, the
Iliad and the
Odyssey, stating that the first inhabitants of it were the son of King Dardanos of Troy called Zakynthos and his men and that they first came on the island around 1500-1600 BC
[citation needed].
The island was then conquered by the Great Imperial King Arkeisios of Kefalonia. The famous Ulysses (
Odysseus in
Greek) from
Ithaca was the next King to conquer the island.
Later on, a treaty was signed that made Zakynthos an independent democracy, the first established in the Hell area, and that lasted more than 650 years.
The
Athenian military commander
Tolmides concluded an alliance with Zacynthus during the
First Peloponnesian War sometime between 459 and 446 B.C.
[1][2] The importance of this alliance for Athens was that it provided them with a source of
tar. Tar is a more effective protector of ship planking than
pitch (which is made from
pine trees). The Athenian
trireme fleet needed protection from rot, decay and the
teredo so this new source of tar was valuable to them. The tar was dredged up from the bottom of a lake using leafy
myrtle branches tied to the ends of poles. It was then collected in pots and could be carried to the beach and swabbed directly onto
ship hulls.
[3] Alternatively, the tar could be shipped to the Athenian naval yard at the
Piraeus for storage.
[4]
Venetian rule
Zakynthos, along with the rest of the Ionian islands, spent six centuries as a subject of the
Republic of Venice (
1194-
1797). Venetian rule protected the island from Ottoman domination but in its place it put a feudal oligarchy. The cultural influence of Venice (and of
Venetian on local dialect) was considerable. The wealthy made a habit of sending their sons to
Italy to be educated. A good example is
Dionysios Solomos, a native of Zakynthos and Greece's national poet. However, both the Greek language and Orthodox faith survived intact.
During the Napoleonic wars the islands were occupied at different times by France, as part of the
département Mer-Égée (which induced the peasants to revolt), Russia, Turkey (
Septinsular Republic) and finally Britain, which held on to them under the guise of the
United States of the Ionian Islands until 1864, when they were ceded to Greece to stabilize the rule of the newly crowned Danish-born King of Greece,
Georgios I.
During World War II
The Cathedral (Saint Dionysios) of the city of Zakynthos.
During the Nazi occupation of Greece, Mayor Karrer and Bishop Chrysostomos refused Nazi orders to turn in a list of the members of the town's Jewish community for deportation to the death camps. Instead they secreted the town's 275 Jews in rural villages. All survived the war. But as punishment the Nazis took all the children to work at camps but not to be killed. When they had loaded up the kids they drove away but the truck stopped because of sheep crossing the road. 1-2 jumped put and escaped the Nazis. Statues of the Bishop and the Mayor commemorate their heroism on the site of the town's historic synagogue, destroyed in the earthquake of 1953. After the war, all of the Jews of Zakynthos moved either to Israel or to Athens.
[5][6]
The Great Earthquake of 1953
This "paradise on earth" suffered a series of four severe
earthquakes in August 1953, resulting in the total destruction of the island's infrastructure, including most of its state archives. The third and most destructive of those quakes, registering 7.3 on the Richter Scale, occurred at 09:24 UTC (11:24 am local time) on August 12, 1953. It had its epicentre directly on the southern tip of the nearby island of
Kefalonia and caused widespread destruction there as well. In addition, the quake was felt throughout most of the country. Only three buildings on Zakynthos were left standing after the disaster: the St. Dionysios Cathedral, the National Bank building and the church of St. Nicholas "tou Molou" (of the Quay). A few other buildings in outlying areas managed to avoid complete collapse.
The rebuilding of the island was subject to a very rigid anti-seismic code, and has thus withstood several moderate and powerful earthquakes at a small amount of damage.
After the quake
Panorama of Zakynthos city.
Zakynthos city, Agios Dionysos Church.
After the enormous earthquake, the island's roads were expanded and paved along with the GR-35, one of the roads linking with the town and
Porto Roma along with
Laganas, Keri and Volimes and from Lachans to Keri. Its airport was opened in the 1960s. Its population partly emigrated but subsequently boomed in later years.
Mining is also common on the island. A small mountain located in Zakynthos' west side was mined during the 1990s, though it is no longer in use. Today, mining continues, but with two quarries on the mountain range on the western part of the island.
Tourism continues to thrive and Zakynthos is currently one of the most popular tourist destinations in
Greece.
A few earthquakes rumbled later in the
2000s, one on Sunday June 8, 2008 at 6.4 R, felt without any damages or injuries. Another but less trembling four months later occurred on Saturday October 11 and measured at 4 R also nearly causing no damages.
The April 2006 earthquake swarm
Starting in the early morning hours of April 4, 2006, a series of moderate to strong earthquakes occurring on an almost daily basis began shaking almost the entire island. On April 11, however, the phenomenon intensified in both magnitude and rate of events. At 03:02 local time of that day, a powerful, magnitude 5.7 earthquake hit the area, only to be followed by an even stronger tremor, registering at 5.9 on the Richter Scale, at 8:30 p.m. (20:30) EET. On April 12, a committee of the nation's most prominent seismologists had an emergency meeting with the Greek
Ministry of Environment, Physical Planning and Public Works, in order to assess the emerging situation. The meeting ended in a scientific consensus that this specific area of the Ionian Sea was simply not ready to produce an even stronger quake, advising the nervous citizens of the island to remain calm. However, at 19:52 and at 19:56 local time of that same evening, two more earthquakes shook the region sending scores of terrified people into the streets. The earthquakes had a preliminary
moment magnitude of 5.8 and 5.4 respectively. Seismologists at the
Athens Seismological Institute were once again taken by surprise by what turned into an unprecedented riddle concerning whether or not these were in fact
foreshocks of a major event. The chances are, nonetheless, that this was just a phenomenon known as
earthquake swarm, characterized by a pattern of a considerable amount of magnitude-wise similar tremors, all occurring within a limited number of days or weeks. As a result of the recurring jolts, moderate damage was reported to a total of sixty residencies and one library, while a small crack appeared on the eastern part of the capital's port. In addition, several rocks tumbled down onto one of the island's main roads, running through its mountainous areas.
The Ionian Islands are situated upon one of Europe's most notorious
faults, capable of producing earthquakes potentially causing both widespread damage and considerable loss of life. However it should be stressed that, following the catastrophe of 1953, the authorities of Zakynthos have enforced a strict program of antiseismic standards to be applied in every building to be constructed. All buildings have been built on a swimming slab and enforced with steel, determined by the government to ensure safety. As a result, an earthquake similar to that of August 12, 1953, will almost certainly result in far less destruction.
After the quake and the Wildfires of 2006
On Thursday July 18, 2006, the western portion of the island was hit by a forest fire. The fire spread to the island's forest and ended up spreading by hectares. Firefighters along with helicopters and planes from the mainland arrived to fight the fire's expansion and further deforestation. The fire lasted for several days and on July 20, much of the area was contained; though it had become unpopular and unattractive scenery. One of the conflagrations appeared as a fiery line visible from as far away as the southern portion of the island and the Ionian Sea.
Geography
Zakynthos has a varied terrain, with fertile plains in the southeastern part and mountainous terrain with steep cliffs along the coasts on the west. Zakynthos town coordinates are: Latitude 37.79139/37°47'29 N, Longitude: 20.89528/20°53'43 E.
The mild,
Mediterranean climate and the plentiful winter rainfall endow the island with dense vegetation. The principal products are
olive oil,
currants,
grapes and
citrus fruit.
The capital, which has the same name as the prefecture, is the town of
Zakynthos; apart from the official name, it is also called
Chora (i.e. the Town, a common denomination in Greece when the name of the island itself is the same as the name of the principal town). According to the 2001 census, the island has a population of 38,957.
Among the most famous Zakynthians is the 19th century poet
Dionysios Solomos, the principal modern Greek
poet and author of the
national anthem of Greece. His statue adorns the main town square. Also the explorer
Juan de Fuca (Ioannis Focas) and the
Italian poet
Ugo Foscolo were born here.
The island has one airport, the
Zakynthos International Airport, "Dionysios Solomos" (on former GR-35) in its southwest which connects flights with other Greek airports. Further southwest is the National
Marine Park of Zakynthos where
loggerhead sea turtles (
Caretta caretta) are found in the
Bay of Kalamaki.
Caretta caretta is an
endangered species - especially by the deck chairs laid out on their breeding grounds and the inevitable pollution. Every year at the beginning of June, the female turtles come to the southern beaches in order to bury their eggs in the sand. The incubation period for the nest is approximately fifty five days, after which time hatchlings emerge from the nest and make their way to the sea. The survival rate for hatchlings is very small, and it is estimated that only one in one thousand hatchlings that enter the sea live to adulthood. Each nest contains around one hundred to one hundred and twenty eggs, each of which are around the size and shape of a ping-pong ball. Female turtles begin to lay nests at around twenty to thirty years of age.
The port of Zakynthos has a ferry connecting to the port of
Kyllini on the mainland. Another ferry connects the village of Skinari to
Argostoli on the island of
Kefalonia.
The
Zante currant, a small sweet seedless
grape is native to the island.
- Island length: 40 km
- Island width: 20 km
- Highest point: Vrachionas, 758 m
Sites of interest include
Shipwreck Bay, Cape
Skinari and the Blue Caves. The western part of the island is accessible and has a panoramic view of the sea. The ridge area from Anafontria has a small observation deck which overlooks the shipwreck and there is a monastery nearby.
Keri is located in the far south of the island. It is a mountain village and has a lighthouse in the south. It includes a panorama of the southern part of the
Ionian Sea.
For tourist facilities, Zante has campsites and beaches including, a beautiful stretch near Keri, around 100 m in length and surrounded by cliffs. The island also offers a plethora of arches and cliffs which are widely known beyond the island ; one is underground. Several documentaries have been filmed around this area of Zakynthos/Zante. Beaches are to be found in Porto Limnionas, Porto Vromi and Porto Zoro.
Population
- 1900: 42,000
- 1981: 30,011
- 1991: 32,556 (island), 13,000 (city)
- 2001: 38,596
In 2006, there were 507 births and 407 deaths.
[7] Zakynthos is one of the regions with highest population growth in Greece. It is also one of the only 3 prefectures (Out of 54) in which rural population have a positive population growth rate. In fact rural population have higher growth rate than the urban population in Zakynthos. Out of the 507 births, 141 were in urban areas and 366 were in rural areas. Out of the 407 deaths, 124 were in urban areas and 283 were in rural areas.
Culture
The island has a long musical tradition. It was a precursor of
opera and
operetta in Greece and on the island it constituted links between nobles and the rest of the people. In 1815 it saw the establishment of the first Music School in Greece. During the first
Olympic Games, in
Athens 1896, the Music Band of Zakynthos took part in the event. It was the period when composers of Zantiote origin, such as
Domeneginis Kapnissis enjoyed some fame in
Europe. Since 2009 Zakynthos has its own jazz festival (Zante Jazz Festival). Clubbing has become a huge part of the culture, bringing in a lot of money in the summer months.
Sport
The island offers exceptional attractions for SCUBA divers. Many of the dive sites are cave dives around the island; a wide range of marine life can be found, and common amongst it are moray eels, monk seals, octopus, and loggerhead turtles (caretta caretta).
Transportation
Greek National Road 35, a road linking Zante and Porto Roma; and another road linking Zante and Volimes.
Zakynthos International Airport is 4.3 km from Zante.
Science
Zakynthos is a beautiful and green island in the Ionian Sea but the freshwater resources are limited.Therefore is a Greek-Norwegian educational collaboration being established on the island: The
Science Park Zakynthos is collaboration between
Technological Educational Institute of Ionian Islands (TEI), The
Norwegian University of Life Sciences (UMB) and the
Therianos Villas and
Therianos Family Farm on
Zakynthos.
Notable people
Zakynthos town is the capital of the island of Zakynthos and home to the main port with ferries departing daily to the mainland, and where most of the round the island boat trips depart from in the summer season. The town was rebuilt after a major earthquake in 1953 which destroyed many of the buildings therefore most of the architecture is relativly modern. There are, however old buildings still dotted around the town, the most prominent being the church of St Dionysios, on the harbour front, named after the patron saint of the island. Only a short distance above the town is the hill of Bochali, where one can visit the old Venetian fortress and also Strani, where Greek poet Dionysios Solomos was inspired to write the "Ode to Liberty" which became the Greek national anthem. From Bochali the views of the town and surrounding areas are unsurpassed. In the town, places of interest include the Solomos museum and also the museum of Byzantine art. A walk along the promenade brings you to the two main squares of Zakynthos town, Solomos square and St.Marcos square where the pedestrian only areas provide many outdoor restaurants and coffee shops, an enjoyable place to relax and watch the world go by. The main shopping street is the Alexandra Roma where you can find everything you need, from bakeries, shoe shops, gift shops, clothes, jewellery, icons, traditional Greek products and more. The main banks are located in an around the squares for money transfer or money exchange. The British consulate is in Zakynthos town on the road running parallel to the Alexandra Roma, at 5 Foskolos Street, should you need their assistance.
Laganas is the largest tourist resort of Zante. It is a resort which caters for all walks of life and particularly attracts the 18 to 30 market due to the vast array of nightclubs and bars. Partying in Laganas begins early and continues into the early hours of the morning, with karaoke, top club DJ's and organised party nights on the agenda. If clubs are not your scene however, there are plenty of smaller cocktail bars and pubs, along with many restaurants with food ranging from traditional Greek cuisine to Chinese, Italian, Indian and fast food take out snacks. The main road, commonly known as the 'strip' runs towards the beach, which is perfect for families with children, with shallow waters and almost 9 kilometres of golden sand stretching along the coast to the next resort of Kalamaki. There are many choices available for accommodation, from hotels, studios and apartments to camping. Laganas has a host of shops, from clothes, leather goods and souvenirs to supermarkets, bakeries, jewellery shops and vehicle hire. Laganas is the main breeding and nesting site for the endangered loggerhead turtle and the waters are therefore a protected area. For this reason speedboats and jet skiis are banned because of the danger to the loggerhead turtles, however small boats and pedalos are available for hire in the bay and boat trips are available daily to see the turtles in their natural habitat.
Kalamaki is located a short distance along the coast from the largest island resort of Laganas. A smaller resort and not quite as lively as it's neighbour, Kalamaki attracts a wide range of tourists. The main road offers the usual array of gift shops, souvenirs, clothes shops, leather goods, vehicle hire and mini markets and there is a large variety of restaurants and snack bars to choose from offering Greek and international cuisine, including English, Chinese, Indian and Italian. The long stretch of sandy beach and warm clear waters are the main attraction of Kalamaki, however the main resort area has grown over recent years, the nightlife and partying continuing into the early hours of the morning with clubs, karaoke, quiz nights and party nights all available for those who want it. The loggerhead turtles also nest and breed in this area, pedalo and canoe hire are available for you to go out and see the the turtles in their natural habitat. Kalamaki has a wide selection of hotels, studios and apartments for you to choose from, most only a short walk from the beach and from the centre of the resort, although taxis are readily available and there are numerous places to hire transport at very reasonable rates.
Argassi was one of the first spots in Zakynthos to be developed for the tourism market and over the years has become a popular resort for people of all ages. It is close to Zakynthos town, the capital of the island, a distance of around four kilometres. Gift shops, souvenir shops, beachwear, clothes and jewellery make up only a part of what is on offer in Argassi. There is a large variety of accommodation for you to choose from, with many hotels, studios and apartments. The resort also has a thriving nightlife, with many bars, clubs and pubs, offering quiz nights and karaoke, to quiet relaxing evenings, to top DJ's and partying until the early hours of the morning. As you wander around Argassi you will find many restaurants, tavernas and fast food outlets offering a choice of traditional Greek cuisine to the good old English fry up. Although quite narrow, the beach is long and watersports are allowed, such as paragliding, jetskiis and ringos. The hills behind the resort offer plenty of pleasant walks through the lush green landscape. The close proximity to Zakynthos town and the beautiful Vassilikos peninsula make the resort a favourite for those who like to get out and about during their stay but enjoy the amenities that the tourist resort has to offer. There are bus and taxi services to these areas and plenty of options if you prefer to hire your own vehicle.
A small village to the north east of the island, sharing the stretch of golden sandy beach with neighbouring Alikanas, Alykes caters for tourism well but offers a more relaxed and quieter side than some of the livlier resorts on Zakynthos. With beautiful scenery and peaceful atmosphere, Alykes has grown to be a popular resort for a relaxing break away. From this area walking or cycling in the surrounding countryside is a popular pastime for visitors, or exploring the smaller villages inland. There is plenty of accommodation available in the resort, including hotels, studios and apartments and also a camping ground situated only a few metres from the beach. There are watersports on offer along this stretch of coast and numerous shops, restaurants and bars available although Alykes has kept an air of tradition, being a small resort, and is not too commercialised. From the hills above Alykes and Alikanas, spectacular views of the salt flats and surrounding countryside offer superb photograph opportunities. Boat trips to the Blue caves and famous smugglers cove are also available from Alykes. 
Sharing the stretch of golden sandy beach with neighbouring resort of Alykes, Alikanas is a small resort, popular with families and couples who are looking for a relaxing break. Although catering well for the tourist market with various shops, restaurants, tavernas and bars available, Alikanas has kept a traditional feel and slower pace of life than some of the larger resorts on the island. Alikanas is slightly smaller than neighbouring Alykes and with its little fishing harbour has a quiet and peaceful atmosphere. Watersports and wind surfing are available on this stretch of coastline and from the beach there are clear views of Kefalonia island, just north of Zante. The area is relatively flat which gives rise to opportunities for cycling and exploring the surrounding countryside and small villages on foot and also the salt flats of Zakynthos in the Alykes area. It is commonly thought that the ancient city of Arkadia was in this area as remains of Mycenean vases were found here. Although a quiet area, Alikanas is only a short walk from the slightly more lively resort of Alykes, and around twenty minutes drive from busy Zakynthos town, easily accessible by local bus route along the coastline or by hired transport.
Limni Keriou is the name given to the port and bay just below the village of Keri where views from the Keri lighthouse are spectacular, and especially popular at sunset for photographers. Around twenty minutes drive south of Laganas, as you come over the hilltops, Limni Keriou can be seen, a picturesque sight as you drive down through the lush green landscape. Most of the narrow beach at Keri is made up of pebbles, however as you walk into the shallow waters, soft sand is under foot after only a couple of metres. Marathonisi island, also known as turtle island, is only a short distance from Limni Keriou and a fifteen minute motor boat ride will take you there. Boats can be hired at reasonable rates and taxi boats are available for the less adventurous. Just around the coastline are the Keri Caves and boat trips are available daily from the small port to see these naturally eroded arches with deep clear blue waters. There is also a scuba diving centre here, although high powered watersports are not available because of the danger to the loggerhead sea turtles in the area. The quiet nature of the resort of Limni Keriou and stunning surrounding scenery attract mainly visitors who are after a peaceful holiday. There are hotels, studios and apartments spread around the resort and a few shops, bars and restaurants mainly around port and seafront areas, where a relaxing evening listening to the gentle waves lapping at the shore is hard to resist.
Tsilivi is a friendly resort in a rural setting, situated on the east coast of Zante just north of Zakynthos town. There are many choices available for accommodation, with a wide range of hotels, studios and apartments. Many of the hotels are situated on the mile long sandy beach, with others slightly further inland in the main town of Tsilivi. The shallow waters are ideal for swimmers and children and Tsilivi has gained a reputation for catering well for families, with plenty of activities such as kid's clubs, waterskiing, windsurfing, paragliding and evening entertainment. There is a wide variety of restaurants in the main resort and also along the waterfront, offering a choice of traditional Zakynthian and Greek cuisine, international and fast food. There are many bars in the resort and holiday entertainment is popular, from live bands to quiz nights and karaoke. Tsilivi offers the usual array of gift and souvenir shops, jewellery, clothes and beach gear and there are plenty of mini markets available for your everyday needs. The neighbouring village of Tragaki is worth a visit with it's traditional tavernas and quaint village charm.
Agios Nikolaos is a small village situated on the north eastern coast of the the island. A popular sightseeing trip from the port of Agios Nikolaos is to the Blue Caves, situated east of Cape Skinari. Named from the deep clear blue colour of the water inside the caves, the naturally eroded arches are a must see for most visitors to the island. Day trips to Kefalonia, the island north of Zakynthos also depart from Agios Nikolaos. Not so much a resort but a small port with a beautiful bay for swimming, Agios Nikolaos has a few restaurants and cafe's along the seafront offering traditional Greek and international cuisine, mini markets and a few gift shops with local products. Agios Nikolaos generally appeals to visitors who are looking for an area of stunning natural beauty, panoramic sea views and a relaxing, peaceful holiday. It is an ideal area for keen scuba divers, snorkellors and fishermen and the surrounding countryside offers pleasant walks.
