Argasi, Zakynthos, Ionian islands
Vardiola of Argasi
| Location: |
| At the southeastern cape of the beach of Argasi in Zakynthos island |
| Region > Prefecture: |  |
| Ionian islands Zakynthos | |
| Municipality > Town: | |
| City of Zakynthos • Argasi | |
| Altitude: | |
| Elevation ≈ 5 m |
| Time of Construction | Origin | |
| around 1768 | VENETIAN  |
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| Castle Type | Condition | |
| Watchtower |
Rather Poor
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The Vardiola of Argasi is located at the location Davia which is a picturesque cape of the beach of Argasi in Zakynthos.
Only two sides of the little tower are still standing.
History
About Vardiolas in generalThe word “vardiola” originates probably from the word guardiola (a common castle term meaning guard or observatory from the Italian word “guarda”). It is used for the various watchtowers that the Venetians built on the coasts of the Ionian islands. There are vardiolas in Kythira, Cephalonia and Zakynthos. Some of them are included in Kastrologos. Probably, there are many more. We do not know (in this site) if the name “Vardiola” is used for watchtowers in other areas outside the Ionian islands.
The Vardiolas of Zakynthos have a very particular design: small dimensions, strong stone walls with a square-pyramid-shaped roof.
Most of the vardiolas in Zakynthos were constructed during the administration of the Venetian Proveditore (Governor) Claudio Gherardini who held this position during the period 1768-1770.
| First entry in Kastrologos: | February 2015 |
Sources
- Μυλωνάς Βασίλειος, Κομίνης Αντώνιος, Δουλδούρης Βασίλειος , «ΒΙΓΛΕΣ ΣΤΟ ΝΗΣΙΩΤΙΚΟ ΕΛΛΑΔΙΚΟ ΧΩΡΟ (ΙΟΝΙΟ) , ΒΙΓΛΕΣ-ΒΑΡΔΙΟΛΕΣ ΖΑΚΥΝΘΟΥ», Πτυχιακή εργασία ΤΕΙ Πειραιά, Τμήμα Πολιτικών και Δομικών Έργων, διαθέσιμο και online
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| Access |
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| Approach to the monument: |
| - |
| Entrance: |
| Free access |
