Kypseli, Zakynthos, Ionian islands
Vardiola of Kypseli
| Location: |
| Near Agios Charalambos church, on the coast north of the village Kypseli in Zakynthos |
| Region > Prefecture: |  |
| Ionian islands Zakynthos | |
| Municipality > Town: | |
| City of Zakynthos • Kypseli | |
| Altitude: | |
| Elevation ≈ 20 m |
| Time of Construction | Origin | |
| around 1768 | VENETIAN  |
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| Castle Type | Condition | |
| Watchtower |
Not Good
|
A small Venetian watchtower on the beach of the village Kypseli (old name Belousi) in Zakynthos. It is close to a similar watchtower, the Vardiola of Tsilivi.
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: | October 2013 |
Sources
- Information (and correction on the initial presentation) by Mr. Yiannis Mylonas
- Picture (and correction on the initial presentation) by Vangelis
- Μυλωνάς Βασίλειος, Κομίνης Αντώνιος, Δουλδούρης Βασίλειος , «ΒΙΓΛΕΣ ΣΤΟ ΝΗΣΙΩΤΙΚΟ ΕΛΛΑΔΙΚΟ ΧΩΡΟ (ΙΟΝΙΟ) , ΒΙΓΛΕΣ-ΒΑΡΔΙΟΛΕΣ ΖΑΚΥΝΘΟΥ», Πτυχιακή εργασία ΤΕΙ Πειραιά, Τμήμα Πολιτικών και Δομικών Έργων, available also online
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| Access |
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| Approach to the monument: |
| - |
| Entrance: |
| Free access |
| Similar |
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| Vardiola of Atheras |
| Vardiola of Koutsoupia |
| Vardiola of Mikro Nisi |
| Vardiola at Piniatoros’ property |
| Vardiola in Tsilivi |
