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The architecture of Zante has been influenced by the Venetians, the
French and the English who dominated the island.
This is why local architecture is a combination of both Baroque and
Renaissance styles.
Superb manor houses with fine arcades, beautiful churches and wonderful
19th century neoclassical buildings used to be decorating the capital
of the island. |
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Unfortunately, most of these were destroyed with the huge earthquake
of 1953; only the buildings housing the Public Services of the island
and some churches were preserved and renovated.
One of the most beautiful neoclassical buildings also survived the
earthquake and has been supremely renovated; this is the Municipal
Theatre which was built in 1875 by the German architect Ziller.
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The inhabitants of Zante made an attempt to rebuild the towns of their
island following the architectural tradition and style but the poverty
created by the earthquake made this very hard to accomplish.The architecture
of the church in Zante is very interesting and characterized by their
belfries which are looking like small towers.
Those churches are not like the Byzantine ones
because their central building is long and low and has a unique aisle,
reminding of the churches of the Western Europe. |
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