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General Elements

          Municipalities : 6

Zakynthos is situated south of Cephalonia and opposite the coasts of Peloponnesus of which it is separated by the "Diaulos of Zakynthos" (=a strip of sea), width of approximately 18km (from Trypiti cape till Cryoneri cape).

AROUND ISLANDS

Strofades. A group of small islands at the south of Zakynthos. On Stomfani there is the monastery of Stofadon. Another islet of this group is Arpnia where the impossing monastery of Agios Dionyssios is saved (13th century). It is dedicated to the memory of the "Saint of Forgiveness". Few years before the byzantine state was abolished, the monastery was flourishing and over one hundred monks cultivated its land. One can get at Stofades by sailboat from Zakynthos (42n.m.). The total area is 4sq km. Nowadays, many hunters come here because of the birds. The ancient people called Stomfades "floating islets".

Agios Ioannis and Plemonari. Opposite the beach of Anafonitria.
Agios Nickolaos. Opposite the coast of Katastari.
Marathonessi. In the gulf of Laganas, opposite "Keriou" Lake.
Pelouzo. In the gulf of Laganas, out of the village of Bassilico.

HISTORY

Homer mentions this island. According to the tradition it took the name of its founder, the son of the king of Troy, Dardanos Zakynthos. Thucydides believed that the first settlers were Achaians, while Plinios mentions that the previous name of the island was Ydria. Zakynthos belonged to the kingdom of Ulysses. Then it was conquered by the Achaians of Peloponnesus and later it became independent and met years of great flourish.
Ally of the Lacedemonians and later the Athenians (BC 456), Zakynthos was conquered by king Philip of Macedonia while, having allies the Aetolians, it fought against the Macedonians. In BC 150 it was conquered by the Romans and in the byzantine times it became "Theme" of the Byzantine Empire.
From 1185 foreign people dominated on the island. Zakynthos met many conqueror from the West. The family of Orssini (tyrants) as well as the Tokes ruled the island. The period of the foreigns domination lasted for seven centuries as it was for the other Eftanessian Island as well. In 1484, Zakynthos was conquered by the Venetians who called the island "Fiore di Levante" (= Flower of the East).
In 1797, it was conquered by the French army and later it was successively conquered by the Russian, the Turkish and the English army. It became island of the Greek State in 1864. The city was ruined by earthquakes and fire in 1953, but it was rebuilt lengthwise the beach according to standarts against the earthquakes. It is the homeland of the poet-makers Ougos Phoscolos ()1778-1827, Andrew Calvos (1792-1867) and Dionyssios Solomos (1798-1857).

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