The city of Zakynthos is the capital and main port of the island of the same name. It is a beautiful town located on the southeastern coast of the island, at the foot of the Bochali hill.
History
Inhabited since Neolithic times, Zakynthos was mentioned for the first time by Homer in the Iliad and Odyssey. During the Peloponnesian war he allied himself with Athens and in 430 BC. And it was attacked by the Spartans. In 211 BC the Roman praetor Valerio Lavino occupied the city of Zakynthos, which then suffered the domination of the Roman Empire and then of the Byzantine Empire. Later, according to a treaty, Zakynthos was transformed into an independent democracy and remained so for more than 650 years.
During the Venetian period, which ran from 1485 to 1797, the city of Zakynthos had such a cultural and artistic development that it was nicknamed "Greek Florence". Subsequently it was ceded first to France with the Treaty of Campoformio and then to England.
The city was almost completely destroyed in 1953 by a disastrous earthquake, which spared very few buildings, including the church of San Dionisio, Villa Romas and the church of San Nicola del Molo. After careful reconstruction it has no longer suffered damage, despite the numerous earthquakes that have occurred, Zakynthos is today a lively and modern city, which retains much of its thriving past as we will soon discover.
What to visit in Zakynthos
The lively city of Zakynthos fascinates thousands of tourists every year with its ancient churches, its interesting museums and also with the shops in the streets of the center, without forgetting the picturesque harbor with the festive waterfront clubs, the hub of the island's nightlife of Zakynthos. It is a city with many faces that is absolutely worth visiting during your stay on the beautiful island of Zakynthos.
Let's start from the Byzantine Museum, housed in an elegant building with an arched colonnade, in the large Solomos square, the main square of the city. Inside there are sacred icons of the Byzantine era and valuable frescoes dating from the fifteenth and seventeenth centuries. The museum's collection also includes some important pictorial works, saved from the rubble of the '53 earthquake. Also inside the Byzantine Museum you can also admire photos and models of the city of Zakynthos before the earthquake.
The church of Saint Nicholas is always located in Solomos square and is the only Venetian building that has resisted the earthquake. Originally the church was built on an island connected to the mainland by a bridge, today it is an integral part of the beautiful city of Zakynthos. In Solomos square you will also find the Municipality's Cultural Center with the ancient public library which houses over 55,000 volumes. In the center of the square you can admire the marble statue of the great poet Dionysios Solomos, to whom the square is named and a commemorative bust of the great Italian poet Ugo Foscolo who was born on the island of Zakynthos.
Another museum that we recommend you visit is the one dedicated to Dionysios Solomos, poet considered the father of modern Greek poetry and is located in the small square of San Marco, next to the church of the same name. The museum preserves the poet's relics, his archives and his personal objects, as well as some portraits of well-known personalities of the island, with their coats of arms, ceramics, clothes and musical instruments.
Do not miss the large church dedicated to Saint Dionisio, patron of the island of Zakynthos, located on the seafront near the port. Already from afar you will notice the bell tower that stands out on the surrounding buildings. The majestic cathedral houses important silver icons by Georgio Diamantis from 1829, a painting by Nicola Koutouzis from 1766 and splendid chandeliers. Every year on the occasion of the feast of St. Dionysus, a solemn procession takes place on August 24 and the city of Zakynthos is colored with fireworks and stalls.
One of the very few buildings that survived the great earthquake of '53 is Villa Romas, a beautiful 17th century residence which belonged to an English merchant and whose original furnishings are preserved. Do not miss the reproduction of the monastery of Sant'Andrea with the original restored frescoes and the bell tower of the church of San Marco, the only Catholic church in the city, built on the basis of that of the Basilica of San Marco in Venice.
If you are not tired yet, we recommend that you pass the town of Zante keeping the sea on your right and take the road on the left that leads to the village of Bòchali. On the hill behind the city of Zakynthos you will find the ruins of the Venetian castle and while you are there take a walk in Bòchali, the village adjacent to the ruins. It is very characteristic, with its small alleys and houses with courtyards full of flowers, but above all from here you can admire a breathtaking view of the entire bay and the city of Zakynthos. This suggestive landscape becomes even more romantic at sunset, when the sun slowly disappears into the sea.
The beach of Zakynthos Town
The lively town of Zakynthos overlooks one of the most beautiful bays on the island, bathed by a beautiful turquoise sea. After passing the port of Zakynthos and going north you will find the long and narrow beach, which runs along the entire promenade. At the weekend it could be a bit more crowded because together with tourists you will also find places that relax in the sun. Follow the entire promenade to the Krioneri area. Here you can park your car or scooter in a clearing and dive into a clear stretch of sea with a rocky bottom.
How to get around Zakynthos?
To be able to move independently to discover this beautiful city, we recommend renting a car or a scooter. If you don't have a rental vehicle, the city of Zakynthos is connected to all the main tourist centers of the island with a bus service that runs several times a day. Numerous guided bus and boat tours also depart from Zakynthos to explore the island. You will be spoiled for choice.
Nightlife in Zakynthos Town
The streets of the center of Zakynthos are lively and there is no shortage of shops, cafés and restaurants for all tastes. On the promenade, called Strada Marina and on Via Roma, which starts from Piazza San Marco, you will find all this and more .. The choice to spend your evenings in the city of Zakynthos is really wide, among pubs snack bars, taverns, restaurants luxury, roof garden and fast food. If you want to continue your evening in a disco pub, continue just outside Zante in the direction of Argasi and you can dance and let loose until late at night!
The city of Zakynthos offers all kinds of entertainment, from the romantic walk at sunset on the promenade to the most eventful evening. For sure, here you will find what is right for you!