Zakynthos, known internationally with the name "Zante", or Phioro tou Levante (= Flower of the East) against the Venetians, is one of the islands of the Ionian Islands. It is the eleventh in size Greek island and the third (after Kefalonia and Corfu) and second in population island of the Ionian islands. Its area is 406 square kilometers and the population is 40,758 inhabitants (2011 inventory). From the Peloponnese is 9.5 nautical miles. miles (from Kyllini in the prefecture of Ilia) and 8.5 nautical miles. miles from the nearest north on this island, Kefalonia. Its inhabitants are called Zakynthians, .
The beach with the famous Shipwreck of Zakynthos.
The shape of Zakynthos is irregularly triangular with the northernmost end of the island leading to the cape of Skinari, while in the south-southeast the bay of Laganas is formed between the two cape, Marathia west and Gerakas, or Geraki, east. Within Lagana bay there are three islands, Marathonisi, Agios Sostis and Peluzos, while 37 nautical miles south of Lagana are the Strofades Islands. The Bay of Laganas, with its enchanting beach, has been discovered since the 1999 National Park as it is the spawning site of the endangered turtle Caretta-Caretta. The west coasts are about 34 km long, rocky and steep forming many caves and creeks. On the contrary, the eastern coasts facing the Peloponnese, 37 km long, are sandy with beautiful beaches.
History
Zakynthos, which Homer refers to as Yelsessa, is wooded, named after her first settler in Zakynthos, the son of King Phrygia Dardanos. Then he was conquered by Arceios, the descendant of King Kefalos, father of Laertis, and his grandfather Odysseus. Thus Zakynthos came to the kingdom of Odysseus, who participated with twelve ships in the Trojan war. After his return and the murder of the suitors, twenty of whom were from Zakynthos, the Zakynthians rebelled and took their island from the kingdom of Odysseus. Over the years, following the spirit of the era, a new constitution was established in Zakynthos, Democracy. Perhaps at that time the Zakynthians founded a homonymous colony on the Iberian peninsula. In the Persian wars Zakynthos remained neutral while in the Peloponnesian war it was involved as an ally of the Athenians. Zakynthos was subordinated to the Macedonians of Alexander the Great and later to the Romans, who granted it relative autonomy. According to the local tradition, Christianity spread on the island by Maria Magdalene in 34 AD. when the ship that carried it to Rome stopped for a while in Zakynthos. During Byzantine times it was plundered by pirates and Vandals. In 1185 Zakynthos and Kefalonia were occupied by the Normans of Sicily (from Admiral Margariton of King Sicilian William II), who by their detachment from the Byzantine Empire created the Palatinate County of Kefallinia and Zakynthos under the domination of the Palatine Comet Orsini 1197 - 1325, d 'Anjou 1325 - 1357 and Takes 1357 - 1479. The Venetians conquer it and remain under the Venetian rule until 1797. A notable event of that period was the popular rebellion (or which is it was simply a character of dishonesty against bangs and protagonists not poor, but rich merchants) known as the Rebellion of the Popolar.
Following the Treaty of Campos Formio follows the French Empire of the Ionian Islands (1797-1799), where the French Democratic initials and then with the Russian-Turkish Alliance Treaty (1799) the Russians with their allies the Turks occupied the island temporarily until it was established by the Convention of Constantinople (1800), the Ionian State (in 1800), in which Zakynthos participated along with the other Ionian islands, compiling the first autonomous Greek state under the sultan domination of the Sultan, with the governor of Zakynthos Georgios Motsenigos, illustrious family name of the island and diplomat in the Russian service. In 1807 the French Empires returned to this place, and in 1815 the United States of the Ionian Islands came under the protection of the English (essentially colonialism) until 1864. The dream of the Zakynthians to unite with Greece took place after hard struggles , on 21 May 1864, after a total of 680 years of foreign occupation
Climate
The climate of Zakynthos is a mild Mediterranean with many rains from November to January and great sunshine all year round. However, it has been influenced by global climate change.
Economy
It is rich in vegetation and is an island with significant agricultural production, mainly based on the cultivation of olive, citrus and raisins, as well as floriculture.
There is also a significant business activity, mainly in the tourism sector, which is assisted by Dionysios Solomos Airport and many hotel units and accommodations, utilizing the natural beauties and the historical tradition combined with the hospitality of the residents.
Villages of Zakynthos
In Zakynthos there are the following villages in alphabetical order:
Agalas, Agia Marina, Agios Dimitrios, Agios Kirykos, Agios Leontas, Agios Nikolaos, Agioi Pantes, Akrotiri, Alikanas,Alykes, Ampelokipoi, Anafonitria, Ano Gerakari, Argasi, , Vasilikos, Ano Volimes, Volimes, Kato Volimes Vougiato, Gaitani , Gallaro, Kalipado,Kalamaki, Kallithea, Katastari, Kato Gerakari, Keri, Kipseli, Lagadakia, Laganas Lagopodo, Lithakia, , Maries, Macherado, Planos, Romiri, Sarakinado, Skoulikado, Tragaki, Tsilivi, Fioliti Varres, Shinari, Cambi.
