All about Zakynthos

The Botega of Komoutos, at the site of the pre-seismic café Melita and the present Alfa Bank.

The history of Botega of Komoutos is "the political and social history of our country during the Venetian rule. For centuries the rulers met there, not only for the sake of recreation, but also to meet and exchange opinions about their fathers, since they, through the council of the "magnificent community", were in charge of the internal administration of the place", writes Zois in the Muses.

Saint-Sauveur, describing the Botega of the years 1789 - 1794, notes: 'On the left [entering the square of the Forum from Stenoforo] we find at first a café (Botega of Komoutou) protected from the heat of the sun by a vine. Young people waste a large part of their day playing cards and billiards there. "

Things change very soon. "Since the establishment of the Ionian State under Russian protection, when wealthy bourgeois were included or attached to the aristocracy, new elements entered Botegan and thus the store took on its aristocratic form. "

According to the constitution adopted on 24 November 1803 and approved by Russia and the High Gate. "Every citizen had the right to join this 'constitutional' courtesy. . who could prove that he had an income of 540 ducats and that he was not engaged in manual labour. Anyone holding an academic degree was exempt from the obligation to prove the amount of his assets. "

And the Botega of Komutu continued its operation with . . increased clientele.