Fiolitis: Village history in the interior of Zakynthos

Fiolitis is an old, agricultural village in the interior of Zakynthos, in the Riza region. Its history brings together church buildings, the effects of earlier earthquakes, and the events of 1821. For travelers who also choose a holiday apartment based on the character of its location, the village’s rural character and historical landmarks are two specific points to consider.

Churches and history in Fiolitis

The Church of Panagia in Fiolitis has been mentioned in sources since the early 16th century. The bell tower, built in 1885, is also part of the village’s history: it belonged to the Church of Saint Nicholas in Fiolitis, was relocated after the 1953 earthquake, and is 13.5 meters high.

The present joint church, Ναός της Παναγίας Φιολίτισσας και του Αγίου Νικολάου των Σχίνων, is considered Fiolitis’s most important monument. Its dual dedication recalls two former churches in the village, which were destroyed in the earthquakes of 1953. Religious artworks rescued from those churches are housed in today’s church. These include the carved, gilded Baroque-style iconostasis from the Church of Saint Nicholas.

Another historical connection is to Giannis Klavdianos. The young man was from Fiolitis and was sentenced to death by hanging in connection with the events of 1821. Thus, both the village’s architectural history and a personal story from that period form part of its historical character.

Fiolitis as a base in the island’s interior

Fiolitis is connected by a paved road to the road network that runs through central Zakynthos and the Riza region. The distance to Zakynthos’s central port is about 10–12 km. When choosing a holiday apartment, you can weigh the village’s agricultural character and its approximate distance from the port as different points of reference. The village’s history offers a distinct focus for anyone interested in historic buildings and the local past as well as location.

More sides of Zakynthos

Zakynthos’s cultural attractions range from art collections to the island’s history. The Museum of Zakynthos displays works of the Cretan School, Cretan-Ionian icons, and works of Ionian Naturalism from the 15th to the 19th century. In the Museum of Solomos and Eminent Zakynthians, the mausoleum on the ground floor has housed the remains of national poets Andreas Kalvos and Dionysios Solomos since 1968.

Zakynthos’s landscape is also shaped by specific places: the Blue Caves are in the Aspros Vrachos area at Cape Skinari. Lake Keri is a wetland protected under the Ramsar Convention, a Natura site, and a nature reserve within the Zakynthos Marine Park. The Keri Lighthouse is known for panoramic sunset views of the Ionian Sea and the rocks of Myzithres.

In Volimes, the Monastery of Agios Georgios sta Gremna was founded in 1535. In Volimes on Zakynthos, Zakynthian Ladotyri cheese is made in dairies and home workshops and offered as a local product. The port of Agios Nikolaos in Volimes is a seaport and connects Zakynthos with Kefalonia by ferry. If this crossing is part of your plans, check the current timetable in advance.

Discover more destinations

Discover more destinations: Zákynthos, Ampelokipoi, Anafonitria, Alikanás, Argassi, Skinaria, Agios Leon, Agios Kirikos.

Back to the main travel guide: Zakynthos.