All about Zakynthos

In the place where the Venetian Fortress of Zakynthos is located today, there were, according to the written testimonies of travelers, the walls of the ancient Acropolis (Psofis), which surrounded the top of the hill. The construction of the walls and fortifications of the Fortress, which have survived to the present day, was completed in 1646 when "proveditor general da mar" was Io. Bapt. Grimani, by Venetian engineers with local craftsmen, with great care and durable materials. At that time the main cobbled road was also built, reaching the seashore, the famous Strada Giustiniana, the Sarzada, as it was established in later years. An important intervention for the maintenance and repair of the walls and the buildings of the Fortress, while taking care of the water supply and sewage system, was carried out by the English in 1812, when they dominated the island and established their garrison there. The exception to this care was the churches, many of which were converted into warehouses. In 1970-71, the Archaeological Service carried out consolidation work on parts of the walls and gates of the fortress that were in danger of collapsing. Following excavation work begun in 1984, several churches dating from the 11th to the 18th century, other buildings, a highly elaborate rainwater collection system (pipes, tanks, etc.) and drains were uncovered. Most importantly archaeological material dating from the prehistoric to the post-Byzantine period has been found, which is what gives the site its special character. The specificity of the fortress lies in the fact that it presents a cultural unity.