All about Zakynthos

The pre-seismic theatre "Foskolos", the work of the German architect Ernst Ziller (1837-1923), was founded in 1872, during the service of mayor Fragkiskos Tzoulatis, on the site of the present Cultural Centre on the foundations of the dissolved alcohol company "Melissa". It was imposing, with a large square, three rows of boxes and a gallery. The eastern wing housed the Lombard political club, the famous "Lombard Casino". Its budget was 70,000 drachmas but in the end the amount for its completion exceeded 120,000 drachmas. The hall has a horseshoe shape with a large square, three rows of loges and the gallery. Operas, melodramas and comedies were staged there. It was inaugurated in 1875, but eighteen years later it was destroyed by the devastating earthquakes of 1893. In 1903, under the mayoralty of Antonios Makris (1853-1937), it was demolished and rebuilt without any change on the same plans by Ziller. It lasted 50 years.  Today only the capitals of its external pilasters have been preserved, which adorn the main facade of the Zakynthos Museum.