Zakynthos today has pleasantly arcaded wide streets, spacious squares imposing buildings and cheerful houses. The Museum of Post-Byzantine Art on Solomos Square contains treasures salvaged from the island's historic churches. On the waterfront, one should visit the churches of Agios Dionysios, the island's patron saint, with its tall campanile, and of Agios Nikolas tou Molou, a churchout of the italian Renaissance with, surprisingly, a 17th century Byzantine belfry. If you walk along the flagstoned coastal promenade, the so called Strata Marina between, thetwo churches, at dusk, you'll get the true flavour of the town. Sometimes it seems as ifthe whole population is out enjoying the ritual of the evening stroll. The street is lined with small cafes and shops selling folk art. Don't leave before tasting the famous Zakynthos "mandolato"or nougat; it's areal treat.

The town is watched over by the Venetian fortress on the hill above. Only the gate, outer walls and battlements still stand. But from this vantage point a spectacular view can be had at the harbour, fertile inland plain and beaches as far as the eye can see. Nearby is another hill, the Lofos Strani where Dionysios Solomos  composed the famous, the father ot modern Greek poetry "Hymn to Liberty", which became the Greek National Anthem. Zakynthos is almost triangular in shape, with two green mountainous promontories extending into the sea to term the huge bay of Laganas. There are more pine-covered mountains and hills in the north, but the centre is gentle and lush, richly planted with currant vines, olive trees, almonds and seasonal vegetables. There are dozens of beaches to choose from, sandy and sheltered with invitingly sparkling water. Flowers of every kind till every available space, tilling the air with the scent that so enraptured visitors of old.

 With a sunny climate most of the year and good roads to facilitate exploring, Zakinthos lends itself to holiday­making in spring and fall as well as summer. Soma of the best known summer resorts are Argassi, Alikes, Planos, Tsilivi, Vassilikos, Gerakas and Porto Roma, while Laganas is the most famous of all. lts long beach and wide range of facilities attract thousands of tourists from May through September. At Laganas, Vassilikos and Gerakas, the endangered sea turtle Caretta­Caretta also comes to lay
her eggs. Apart from its beaches, Zakynthos has many other wonderful places to get to know. For example, there's the village of Anafonitria, with its fascinating 15th century monastery dedicated to the Virgin. And Maherado, with its two 14th century churches, the half-ruined Ypapanti and the sumptuously decorated Agia Mavra. Or the mountain village of Keri, where sooner or later everyone goes to admire the sunset and the stupendous view of the sea caves below. Heading north, don't miss Volimes
or Skinari at the tip of the island. Volimes has a wonderful Venetian tower and lovely old churches with frescoes dating to the 12th and 14th centuries, while Skinari
is where the famous Blue Caves are located. Inside the caves, the refraction of the sun's rays on the water creates an unbelievable array of blue and silver tones of a dreamlike beauty.
Further south is the cave of Xingia, where there is a spring of sulphurous water that bubbles up white, clouding the sea up to 500 metres from shore.