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Zakynthos
( Zante ) island Greece
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The
Venetian Fortress of Zakynthos.
The
Venetian fortress is situated in the place where written sources locate
the wall of the ancient acropolis (Psophidas). The strong earthquakes that
have frequently struck the island destroyed the fortifications so often
that they had constantly to be rebuilt.
The
construction of the walls and the Fortress defensive system, which are
preserved, was completed in 1646 when the "proveditor general da mar" was
Io. Bapt. Grimani. The work was done by Venetian engineers and local builders,
with great care and strong materials. At that same time the main stone-paved
road was laid down, running to the coast. This was the Strada Giustiniana,
the Sartzada as it was known in more recent times. An important programme
of conservation and repair of the walls and the buildings of the Fortress,
together with work on the water-supply and drainage systems, was carried
out by the English in 1812 while they were in control of the island.
In
1970-71, the Archaeological Service undertook the consolidation of those
sections of the walls and gates of the Fortress
which
were in danger of collapsing. As a result of excavations which began in
1984 and are continuing, many churches, datable from the 11th to the 18th
centuries, have been discovered. Found in addition are other buildings,
a sophisticated system for gathering rain-water (pipes, cisterns, etc.)
as well as drainage pipes. Most significant, however, is the archaeological
material which dates from prehistoric to post-Byzantine times, thus giving
special importance to the place.
The
visible monuments found during the course of recent excavations are datable
from the Byzantine period down to the time of the English occupation.
a.
Sotera or Pantocrator or "Domo" or San Salvatore (Byzantine Church of the
12th century).
b.
St. Frangiskos (St. Francis), three aisled basilica of the 14th century.
c.
St. Varvara (St. Barbara), a single-aisled basilica.
d.
St. Ioannes Prodromos (St. John the Baptist), enf of the 15th century.
e.
Church of the Hyperayia Theotokos (Virgin) Laourentaina.
f.
St. Ioannes (St. John) Theologos, 15th century.
g.
Venetian prisons.
h.
Venetian powder-magazine.
i.
English OfficersΥ Playing Field.
j.
English Barracks.
k.Headquarters
- barracks
Tickets
Full
admission 3
Free
admission
-
persons
under 18
-
university
students from Greece and the E.U.
-
students
of Classical Studies or Fine Arts from countries outside the E.U.
-
members
of the ICOM-ICOMOS
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tour guides
-
journalists
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persons
possessing a free admission card
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Days of
free admission for all visitors Sundays in the period
between 1 November and 31 March, the first Sunday of every month,
except for July, August and September (when the first Sunday is holiday,
then the second is the free admission day, etc.)
Telephone:
+30-26950-48099 |
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