The architecture of Zante has been influenced by the Western Europe's culture: by the Venetians, the French and the English who conquered the island.

This is why Zakynthian architecture combines both Baroque and Renaissance styles.

The capital of the island used to be full of beautiful two and three storied manor houses with fine arcades, of churches and of wonderful 19th century neoclassical buildings. All of these were destroyed with the huge earthquake of 1953;

Almost all the mansions collapsed except for a few that are housing, today, the Public Services of the island, some churches too.
Fortunately one of the most beautiful neoclassical buildings also survived the earthquake. the Municipal Theatre which was built in 1875 by the German architect Ziller.

The inhabitants of Zante tried to rebuild their town according to the architectural tradition but this was quite impossible due to the poverty created by the earthquake.

The churches' architecture is very interesting and characterized by their belfries, usually built right next to the church, looking like small towers.
Those churches are different from the Byzantine ones; the central building is long and low and has a unique aisle, similar to the Western Europe's churches.

Nowadays, despite the earthquake and the growth of tourism, the inhabitants of Zante try to maintain and preserve the traditional architecture of the island.