Kastrologos

Castles of Greece
 

Mikro Nisi, Zakynthos, Ionian islands

Vardiola of Mikro Nisi

or Vardiola at Platys Gialos  
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Location:
In the village Mikro Nisi, at the northeastern coast of Zakynthos island.
Region > Prefecture: Greek Map
Ionian islands
Zakynthos
Municipality > Town:
City of Zakynthos
• Mikro Nisi
Altitude:
Elevation ≈ 8 m 
Time of Construction   Origin
18th century  
VENETIAN
Hon 
Castle Type   Condition
Watchtower  
Average
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

A small Venetian watchtower inside the village Mikro Nisi, which is on a small peninsula at of the northeastern coast of Zakynthos.


History

About Vardiolas in general

The 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:    September 2014

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, available also online