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Zakynthos Museums
Zakynthos Byzantine Museum
It is in D. Solomos square, the largest and most charming of the island, that after the havoc of the earthquake in 1953 is now getting back to its original charm.
The museum that for the first time was open to the public in 1960 is on three levels and in the first two rooms the visitor can admire Byzantine icons carved in the wood whereas in the third and fourth rooms there are original frescos of the XV, XVI and XVII century.
Two more rooms are dedicated to paintings of the XVIII century and oils on canvas of artists like Doxaras, Koutouzis and Kantouni.
The special importance of this museum is eventually due to the opportunity that the tourist has to appreciate the pictures and plastics reproducing the city before the earthquake besides the artistic evolution from the post Byzantine period to the contemporary Greek art.
The museum is open everyday except Monday from 8.30 to 15.00.
For further info it is possible to contact the following telephone number: 26950.42714.
Solomos And Kalvos Museum Zakynthos
The museum was founded in 1959 by a club of admirers of the fine arts of Zakynthos; it is located in the striking St. Marco square and it is very famous since it keeps the relic of the two poets Dionysios Solomos and Andreas Kalvos, real national symbols.
In the museum there are local art handcrafts such as paintings of the XVIII and XIX century, carved pottery, sculptures and ancient musical instruments; the section dedicated to clothes and weapons of noble families of the last century is very well attended.
There are then many portraits dedicated to the most important people of the island and a collection of coats of arms.
The museum is open everyday from 9.00 to 14.00. For more info please call: 26950.28982.
Romas Family Museum
This museum consist in the mansion of Alexander Roma that was President of the Greek Parliament and the creator of the "Greek Red Shirts" military unit with which he fought for the liberation of the city of Ioannina.
A. Roma remains one of the most characteristic and pure personalities of the modern Greek political and military history.
The mansion was built in 1660 by the Vice Consul of England in Zante, Robert John Geoffrey.
During the period of the "English Protection" (1816-64) the mansion was the seat of the English Resident of Zante and was known by local people as "Residenza".
The mansion was bought by Alexander Roma in 1880. Since then and until the Second World War became the seat of one of the two major political parties of the island (the Roman party).
This house survived to the earthquake of 1953 that destroyed all the city and then it was partly rebuild by Dionisios Romas.
Now represents the sole example of the old big urban zantiote architecture.
The large and decorated rooms of the building, the libraries consisting of old and rare editions, as well as the large collection of family portraits, paintings, gravures, old weapons and various objects of art, reflect the needs, the expectations, the mentality and the way of living of the old zantiote aristocracy.
The mansion is located in Louka Karer street at number 19 not far from Solomos Square and the Town Hall. It's open everyday from 10.00 to 14.00 and from 19.00 to 21.00.
For more information please call: 26950.28381.
Zakynthos Naval Museum
The naval museum is located in Strani hill at the back of the city of Zakynthos and it has been founded by Antonis Mylonas, an artist connected to the sea and boats world. He reproduced the naval history of Greece in one hundred and forty watercolours up to the extent to allow the museum to reach prestigious records:
- It is the only Greek museum to give a precise portrait of the national naval history from 1700 to nowadays.
- It is the only museum in the world to exhibit different models of Byzantine ships since the foundation of the very same Byzantine empire to its overthrow in 1453.
Eventually it is worthy to see the accessories belonging to the most popular Greek warships, naval costumes, board books and epoch pictures.
Zakynthos Cultural and Agricultural Museum
Founded in 1998 in the small village of Pigadakia, under the township of Alykes, it exhibits the culture and traditions history of the Greek rural world, typical in particular of this island.
There you can admire rare works dated back to the XVI century such as working tools, everyday tools and very rare works of ancient local handcraft.
Zakynthos Town Hall Library
The town hall library is located in a big building in Solomos square. Its story goes back to 1628 and before being destroyed by the earthquake and the fire; it kept unique papers and books of poets of the past.
Thanks to the donation of some people of Zakynthos who gave to the library books from their personal and private collection, it was possible to rebuilt the past and give it back to people at their disposal.
In the library it is possible to find rare books concerning the history and tradition of Zakynthos, treaties of famous writers, copies of old newspapers and memories concerning the second world war in addition to the pictures of Zakynthos before the calamity happened in 1953.
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