The “Argassi Arch” (Kamara of Argassi), which today stands just a few meters inland from Argassi beach, was once part of an old coastal road connecting Sgournes with the Davia area, following the shoreline beneath “Kommeno Vouno” (Cut Mountain). It is a small three-arched bridge, built in the early 19th century, most likely around 1805, according to an engraved date on a white stone above the keystone of the central arch.
At that time, the island was part of the Septinsular Republic, a semi-autonomous Greek state under the protection of Russia and the Ottoman Empire. The site originally marked the mouth of a stream, known locally as the “River of the Arch,” which descended from the slopes of Mount Skopos and met the sea at this point.
Over time, the sea gradually covered the surrounding coastal area and dramatically changed the landscape. However, the Argassi Arch remains one of Zakynthos’ most distinctive small monuments. It stands silently today, as if recalling the era when horses and carts passed along a road running beside the waves, connecting Zakynthos Town with Vasilikos.
Beneath its arches, one can still see the stone foundations, built from carefully cut blocks likely sourced from nearby quarries. These details reveal the precision and care with which the structure was designed to withstand the force of the seasonal stream.
