Zakynthos Naval Museum

The Zakynthos naval museum, along with other interesting places like the Venetian castle or the St George of Filikon Chapel, is one of the main cultural points of interest in Bohali. It is quite famous because of its complete collection of navy items and records. In fact, it shows all the different concerning facts of the naval environment from the 18th century to the present.

This includes different instruments and ship miniature models, as well as many naval costumes and artifacts, like boats and torpedoes, belonging to the Greek civil war and the first and Second World Wars. The museum also shows some interesting books and pictures.

However, many of the elements displayed at this naval museum are not limited to the 18th century. It counts on different models of ships belonging to the whole Byzantine Empire, which ended in the middle of the 15th century. This vast record of the Ionian Islands navy allows for following its development during the last centuries.

The other naval museum in Zakynthos, a less popular though, is the ‘Milanio’, in Tsilivi, located on the northeast coast, at 5km from town. This area has became an important resort, with many family entertainment places – traditional taverns, restaurants, sandy beaches- as well as for young people –bars, nightclubs-. Its beaches are very popular, because they are surrounded by vineyards and olive groves, and also because they have clean golden sands. In spite of all, what makes this museum special is not just its location, but the exclusive fact of having registered the Greek naval development of centuries on watercolours.

These pieces of art are unique, and are not found in any other museum on Zakynthos. In addition, it has some photos and other historic elements on the same line of the naval museum of Bohali.

When it comes to making a decision on which of both Naval museums to visit, it may be difficult to decide, as visitors are attracted both by the panoramic views of Bohali and the sunny beaches of Tsilivi, and both naval museums deserve a visit, as they provide important and picturesque sights of the Greek historic development and culture heritage.