Zakynthos town - Zakynthos (Greece)
Zakynthos Town. Zakynthos town is the capital of the island of Zakynthos, the locals call their town ‘Chora’, as often a capital is called on other Greek islands. This town, which was formerly called the "Venice of the South", was in 1953 almost completely destroyed by a massive earthquake. In Zakynthos town live about 12,000 inhabitants, it is a modern town with many buildings in neoclassical style. There are streets with arcades, churches with imposing bell towers, beautiful squares and major monuments.
The port of Zakynthos is also located in this town, from here there is direct connection to Peloponnese (Kylini). Every day boat trips are organised to other islands and to many interesting coastal places where you can’t reach by car.
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Sights Zakynthos town:
- The Solomos Square at Strata Marina with it’s many neoclassical buildings and the statue of Dionysios Solomos.
- The many beautiful churches of the town Zakynthos. In some churches icons can be admired that were painted by Creta and local painters. Beautiful icons are in the churches Faneromeni, Kyria ton Aggelon, Agios Nikolaos Molou and Pikridiotissa.
- The church of Agios Nikolaos Molou where the patron Saint of the island, Agios Dionysios, preached when he came to Zakynthos. This Renaissance-style church was built in the 17th century.
- The church of Agios Dionysios with its imposing bell tower, the urn of the Saint and many beautiful icons.
- The post-Byzantine museum where works of icon painters are exhibited.
- The Museum of the Occupation and the National Resistance at the Spiritual Centre
- The Ethnological museum in the Leonida Zoi Street.
- The municipal library and the picture gallery where paintings can be seen in which the city appears how it looked before the 1953 earthquake.
- The hill Strani where the bust of the Greek national poet Dionysios Solomos is located. Dionysios Solomos was the writer of the Greek national anthem. Also nearby are the ruins of a Venetian castle.
- The hill Bochalis where the church Zoodochou Pigis is located and where you can see a beautiful Byzantine icon of the Holy Mother. From the top of this hill there is an excellent view over the city. There are also many traditional tavernas with great panoramic views.
- The area around the Statue of Liberty and the memorial to the fallen soldiers which has an important cultural and social meaning.
- The part of the city at the centre where many cafes, cafeterias and restaurants are.
- The Agios Markos Square, which includes the mausoleum of Solomos, Kalvos and other famous Zakynthians . Here is also the Catholic Church of Agios Markos with the big classic clock tower.
- The May 21 street and Alexadrou Roma street where many shops, cafés and restaurants can be found. This is actually the main shopping centre of Zakynthos.
Text: Yorgos and Wendy Nikolidakis - Revised by Maxine van Hoften Gee
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Zakynthos town in other languages
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