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Zante (Zakynthos) Island - General Information
Zante
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Zakynthos is the third island in the Ionian
sea, as far as extension is concerned, after Kefalonia and Corfu.
It is 8.5 nautical miles from Kefalonia and 10 nautical miles from Kilini.
It has a surface area of 402 square km
and a population of 32,800. The island's coasts, 123 km long, are steep
in the west and sandy in the southeast.
The capital which has the same name as the prefecture, is the town of
Zakynthos. This includes the islets of Strofades and it is on the eastern
part of the island.
The Zakynthians are happy and friendly people. They have a great sense
of humor, they move their hands intensely while speaking and their language,
full of words with Italian roots, has melody and harmony. The Zakynthians
love literature and art. They are very cultured, and their behaviour is
cosmopolitan, due to the fact that they travel extensively through Europe,
particularly Italy. The Zakynthians love their island, and throughout
the years they
have tried to preserve their traditions and their solid identity
The island's climate is mild and healthy. The summer is cool and pleasant
and the winter is mild. It almost never snows and it often rains, thus
the island is green and fertile for cultivation. The temperature never
drops below
0o C and never over 40o C. The average temperature in January is 11.2o
C and in July is 26.1o C. The island's humidity is low, lower than the
humidity of the Cyclades, which are the same latitude. Most of the days
are sunny, the island of Zakynthos is the second sunniest part of Greece,
next to Dodecanese
The island of Zakynthos is mountainous. Its highest peak is mount Vrahionas
(756 m.) on the western part of the island. This mountain slopes into
the sea, forming steep and inaccessible coasts, unlike the island's sandy
beaches in the southeast. Other mountains of Zakynthos are: Atheras (583
m.), Kaki Rahi (680 m.) and Skopos (483 m.).
The scenery is majestic, as the green slopes combine with the orchards
and the picturesque coasts
The town of Zakynthos, with a population of 10,000 inhabitants, is the
capital, situated in the eastern part of the island. Most of the old town
was ruined in 1953, during the earthquake which shocked the Ionian Islands
and from which only a few buildings and churches servived. Upon the ruins,
the new town was built, preserving the traditional architecture of the
Ionian Islands. It was only fair to call Zakynthos "Fioro di Levante"
(Flower of Lavender),
because of the town's beauty and gentility. The crowded highway by the
sea, Strata Marina, and the surrounding alleys concentrate the biggest
part of the island's commercial and cultural life. The town's most significant
churches that survived the 1953 earthquake, are: Panagia Agelon, Panagia
Faneromeni, Agios Nikolaos Molou and the church of the island's protector
- saint, Agios Dionissios. One should also visit the town' s museums:
the Museum of Dionissios Solomos and of other prominent Zakynthians, the
Byzantine Museum, the Museum of Occupation and Resistance against the
Germans and the Municipal Library. From the town, one should visit the
hill of Strani, where Dionissios Solomos stood and gazed at the sea. In
the central square one will admire the statue of Dionissios Solomos. On
top of the hill around which the town is built, one will admire the ruins
of a Venetian fortress. From the hill's slope where Bohari is situated,
one will admire the majestic view.
How to Get to How to Get to Zante
By air are executed flights all the time from Athens.
Roadly, exist dense itineraries of buses KTEL for Kyllini with direct
correspondence to ferry boat.
Railway, by Piraeus - Athens is executed itineraries only the summertime
for Kavasila and then with local train
in Kyllini. Finally, ferry boat execute all the time dense itineraries
(the summertime) and more thinly the winter
from Kyllini.
Zante Island Nightlife
Restaurants, taverns, bar, cafeterias, club and traditional “bouzoukia”
can find a visitor in Zakynthos capital, while the same variety can also
be found in some smaller areas of Zakynthos.
Zante Island Sports
In the sector of sports the choices are numerous. Most of the big hotels
in Zakinthos and in Laganas area exists the possibility for sailing, windsurfing
and marine ski.
In Planos, in Alykes, in Argasi and in the Lake Keriou (as in most beaches
of the island) exist marine sports.
Zante Island Shopping
The streets of Zakynthos are in general lines satisfactory while also
the transport is dense for all the parts of the island. Therefore, the
visitor by using the means of transportation or his own car , can go to
the center of Zakynthos and shop in big commercial centers , traditional
island products as Zakynthos cologne , or even simple daily things from
a variety of big super markets.
Zante Island Recipes
As long as for the local events, these are many in the number with sweet
character and with traditional food such as: kokkinisto rabbit, chicken
, fish with traditional garlic sauce which is called “ skordalia”
etc.
The visitor can supplement his list with the local markets. The most known
local products from local markets are the traditional ladotyri ( it is
a cheese made only in Zakynthos island ), the sweet onions, the wine,
the nougats ( traditional “ mantolato “ ), the almonds, and
the figs.
Bus & Taxi Services :
There is daily KTEL service from Zakynthos to:
Argasi - Xerokastelo - Vassilikos - Porto Roma - Tsilivi - Planos - Tragaki
- Kipseli - Alikanas - Alikes - Katastari - Orthonies - Anafonitria -
Volimes - Exo Hora - Kambi - Agios Leon - Agios Nikolaos - Maherado -
Galaro - Gyri - Keri - Agala - Lithakia - Laganas
By boat, one can visit the Blue Cave, Alikes, Limni Keriou and Marathonissi.
For further information, write to the local tourist agencies.
If you have a boat, you can tour the island, anchoring at Zakynthos,
Laganas, Alikes and Limni Keriou. In the port of Zakynthos, there is a
filling station for water. For fuels, call (0695) 22157.
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The island's primary trade is centered around its agriculture, which was
developed during the Venetian Rule when the production of oil and raisins
was firmly established. The majority of the island's products during this
time were tended by Peloponese refugees. Today the largest part of the
island is covered with grapevines, orchards, olive grows and pine forests.
The frequent rains enhance the fertility of the earth, thus the locals
are able to make a living through their agriculture. The island's products
are: fruits, potatoes, onions, oil, raisins, wine and cereals. In the
mountainous areas, people are primarily stock-breeders; few of the locals
fish.
