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Zante
guide
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| Zakynthos
is 406 km2 in area and has 123.2 km of seashore. It is triangular in shape,
pointing north-west.
The third in size of the islands of the Ionian Sea, the green island of poetry, of song and love, the native land of D. Solomos, the writer of the Greek National Anthem but also that of St. Dennis, the Patron Saint. Rich in beauty and tradition, both historical and cultural, Zakynthos is ideal for any traveller with an exploring mind. When the ferry arrives at the port, especially at dusk, it feels as though you are entering the port of Venice. On the one side you will see the lit church bells of the St. Dennis Cathedral and on the other side the picturesque Main Town with the snake like road to the hill of Bohali (2km) and the Venetian Fortress (3km). The view of the port and the town from above is simply breathtaking and even more enjoyable when you are seated at one of the many open air cafes or local tavernas. In the town you may stroll at the historic St. Mark's Square and visit the Solomos & Kalvos Museum which is also their Mausoleum. There are kept original artefacts of the island's gentry along with their seals. The nearby Solomos Square is full of neoclassical buildings and you may visit the Byzantine Museum and marvel at the old icons and frescoes that survived from the medieval churches which did not survive the disastrous earthquake of 1953. On Zakynthos you will find mountain villages and those of the plains as well as those by the sea. In between the sharp edged rocks, the white sand and the turquoise water bays the Caretta-Caretta sea-turtles find refuge to reproduce. The beaches of Lagana (8km) and Geraka (17km) welcome them every year when they come out at night to lay their eggs. The mountain villages (Keri, Lithakia, Maherado, Koiliomeno) are famous for their true Zakynthian hospitality and you will surely enjoy the local gastronomy and an unsurpassed tradition for wine. Local dishes, cheeses, cold meat cuts and the special sweets but most of all the semi-dry wine (mastelado) of the area will stay with you for a long time. Sgantzeto, pantseta, ladotyri, chiromeri, mantolato & pasteli are some of their names you must remember when coming. The Monasteries is another point of interest that should not be forgotten. Their history and worship along with the special Zakynthian way of chanting will lift you to another dimension. Frescoes and old icons make the simplicity of the nuns & the monks regal. On
this island everything is different - the musical stories sang at the tavernas,
the historic wineries, the stalactite & the blue caves, the sight of the
'shipwreck' now sunk in the sand, the cave of St. Damian and so much more
that you must explore for yourself. |
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