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Isn't it funny how with some places you feel at home almost immediately? I don't know if it really is to do with the country, or simply that you got out of bed on the right side, or the plane wasn't delayed but whatever it was, Zakynthos felt dead right for me.
Zakynthos, meaning town (Zak) on a hill (ynthos), is the name given to it's capital as well as the island itself. It was originally called Zante by the Venetians who built the enormous castle on the hill that now looks down over the town of Zakynthos. All life used to take place within these castle walls and the fact that there used to be 12 different churches in the grounds, gives you an idea of its size. However, an idea is about all you can get these days. Most of the very impressive walls are still intact but thanks to lack of use, demolition and earthquakes, the castle walls now only guard a fine forest of pine trees and picnic areas. The Greeks are now pushing for the Greek name of Zakynthos to be used but one of the reasons for the continuing existence of the Venetian name is the lovely saying, "Zante Fior de Levant" (Flower of the Levant").
Zakynthos is known to have been inhabited during the 15th and 16th century. It has been occupied by the Romans, the Byzantines, the Crusaders, the French, Venetian and then finally back to the Greeks in 1864.
St Dionysios is the patron saint of the island and many of its boys bear his name (the English equivalent is Dennis). In fact just about everything bears his name. He lived during the late 16th and early 17th centuries and was made a Bishop in Athens whilst on his way to the Holy Land. He returned to Zakynthos a sick man and settled in the tiny Monastery of Anafonitria. The story goes that one night a man knocked on the Monastery door, admitted to the murder of a man and asked for safety from the authorities. Dionysios recognised the murdered man as his own brother, yet still gave the murderer sanctuary. For this act, amongst many others, he was made a Saint. The Monastery is still there today and is situated in Anafonitria on the north west of the island.
Just a short drive further north is Volimes which is famous for its lace. Examples of the finest work imaginable hang from every window and along shop fronts. In 1988 the "Women's Co-op for Country Tourism" was founded, designed to give women in the country a share of the profit to be gained from tourists.
The whole of this section of the island has some of the most frightening cliffs. One or two of the 'roads' will bounce you dangerously close to enormous drops and, if you're brave enough, eventually down to spectacular beaches and famous wrecked Smugglers Steamer.
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