Every one visiting Zakynthos knows the Laganas Bay or at least has heard about it.
Laganas- it doesn’t really sound like a place name with greek origin, does it? It’s not like Marathias, Agios Leon, Agios Nikolas, Exo Chora…
According to Christos Liveris book about Zakynthian place names, the name “Laganas” possibly originates from the italian word “laguna”, that describes a lagoon( an area of calm sea water that is separated from the ocean by a line of rock or sand) with small islands. And that’s exactly what Venetians faced watching the Laganas Bay, when they arrived to Zakynthos in the 15th century. With Peluzo and Marathonissi making it seem closed, and with its shallow and calm water, the bay truly looks like a lagoon.
Now, watching Laganas bay from various points of view, it seems quite reasonable that it was called “laguna”. And giving the place an italian name seems quite as reasonable considering the long Venetian rule period and the relation Zakynthians had to Italy. Many other location names on the island have italian origin as well!
