Today only a few traditional buildings and churches are still standing. The new town was built on the ruins of the ancient one in an attempt to preserve the traditional architecture but this was only possible in a few areas, like the spacious Solomos Square, due to great poverty the disasters of the earthquake caused above the population.
The long waterfront extending between the Solomos Square (on its right) and the Church of Agios Dionysios, saint patron of the island (on its left) is the most popular and crowded place of Zakynthos, gathering many restaurants, tourist shops and ferry agencies.
All the commercial and cultural life of the island is concentrated on the third parallel street of the waterfront. Solomos Square (Plateia in Greek) is a large square boarded by some elegantly arcaded buildings. The square was given the name of the famous Greek poet Dionysios Solomos who wrote the Greek National Hymn. A museum has been founded in honour of the life and work of the poet, and is located close to the Plateia (square) Agiou Markou.
The capital of Zakynthos also has a Museum of post-Byzantine art which stands on the Plateia Solomos, as well as a museum dedicated to the life and work of the Greek novelist and play writer Grigorios Xenopoulos, located close to the Church of Agios Dionysios.
This impressive church stands on the left end of the waterfront and is devoted to the saint patron of Zakynthos whose corpse is kept there, in a silver carved reliquary. The church also houses some beautiful and valuable wall paintings.
Another very interesting church of the town is the Church of Agios Nikolas tou Molou, located on the waterfront.
A Venetian fortress used to rise over the capital but today only the gate and the outer walls are still standing. However, the view over Zakynthos Town and its surroundings from this spot is astonishing.
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