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Kefalonia is the largest of the ionian islands. It has a size of 773km2 with a population density of 55 ppl/km2.The tourist season starts from May till late of October. Kefalonia lies just to the east of a major tectonic fault, where the european plate meets the aegean plate at a slip bountry. A series of 4 earthquakes hit the island in August '53 and caused major destruction with almost every house at the island destroyed.In 2001, the famous movie "Captain Corelli's Mandolin" with Nicolas Cage, filmed here at Sami, Antisamos Kefalonia.The story was about the world war 2 at the ionian islands on September 1943. All ionian islands was invaded by the italian army and the inhabitants surrendered immediatly.
Νear Skala Village, is the famous "Kaminia" or "Mounta" beach. Here, the turtles lay eggs during summer nights and it is forbitten to walk around until morning. It is a very quiet, family beach, with a great view to zante island.
Αinos, is the tallest mountain in the Ionian island of Kefalonia, with an elevation of 1.628m. Most of the mountain range is designated as a national park area and is covered with Greek fir and black pine trees. If the day is clear,you can see the NW Pelloponese and aetolia along with the islands of Zante, Lefkas and Ithaka.
Melissani Lake, is a cave NW of Sami. It was created by a mechanical and chemical process called "dissolation of rocks". The water enters the calcareous rocks, erodes them and create hollows. The lake was discovered in 1951 by speleontologist Giannis Petrochilos. The water cross from one side of Kefalonia called "katavothres" near Argostoli and ends up at the lake of Karavomylos near Sami.
Drogarati cave was discovered 300 years ago, when a strong earthquake caused a collapse that revealed the caves entrance. It is an impressive cave with remarkable formations of stalactites and stalagmites. Speleologists say that this cave is 150 million years old and constitutes a rare geological phenomenon. The temperature inside during summer is 180oC and the humidity reaches 90%.
Xi beach is a red sandy beach with white rock hills that surround it. It is an ideal environment for children because of the gentle waves and swallow water.The beach is a 4 km strip of sand which is up to 50 m wide in places.Μyrtos beach is generally made up of marble material, a metamorphosed limestone. The beach is made up of round, white cobblestones. The sediment gradually becomes smaller as you approach the shoreline. Because the slope angle has an abrupt drop near the edge of the shoreline, the wave energy is very high and causes the gradation trends from cobbles to pebbles along the beach.
Longshore drift, along with wave energy, has shaped the shore. Myrtos has been described as "one of the most dramatic beaches in Greece", with its "mile-and-a-half long arc of dazzling white pebbles."It was used as the location for the mine explosion episode in the film Captain Corelli’s Mandolin. Myrtos has been voted 12 times the best Greek beach while it regularly features in best beaches lists.
In the northern part of Kefalonia lies a beautiful village, Assos, belonging to the municipality of Erisos. The village is built like an amphitheatre around the peninsula, surrounded by pine and cypress trees.The astonishing attration of this village is its castle, which along with that of Agios Georgios is the most important of Kefalonia. It was built in the late 15th century to protect inhabitants from pirate raids. Great battles were fought here, in order to defend the island of Kefalonia. In the early history the castle was used as a prison from the Greek government.
Fiskardo is a village and a community on the norhen part of Kefalonia. It is the northernmost port of Kefalonia, a short distance from Ithaca. Fiskardo has a small and diminishing fishing fleet. The coast around Fiskardo is mainly rocky with numerous pebble-beached coves. The port serves ferry routes to the ports of Frikes (Ithaca) and Lefkada.
Fiskardo has been identified with the ancient town Panormos, mentioned by the 5th century BC Greek historian Herodotus. In late 2005, when building a shopping complex close to the harbour in Fiscardo, workers discovered a plaque dating back to ancient Greece which gave thanks to the people of Panormos from the people of Athens for allowing them to hunt in the area. In late 2006 construction workers building a new hotel near the centre of Fiskardo stumbled upon a perfectly preserved Roman-era grave complex filled with gold jewellery, glass, clay pots and bronze artefacts. The complex measures 26 by 20 feet and is the shape of small house.
Μarkopoulo is the famous church that the snakes of Holy Mary appear from 6-15 of August. They say that a tree burned and the residents believed that the village was on fire. When they arrived at the spot, they saw something magnificent. Although the tree was burned completely, the icon of Holy Mary was there at the bottom of the tree, untouched and like new. The villagers moved the icon inside the church, but after the night it was found again at the first place, at the bottom of the burned tree. After that, the villagers placed the icon again inside the church but again, 3 times in the row, the icon was found at the bottom of the burned tree. So they thought it was an omen, so they builded the church at the exact spot of the tree. After this event, in the era of pirates, the church was approached by some of them to steal the icons. The story says that the nuns prayed to Holy Mary to protect them and the icons. Then a miracle happened, the church was surounded by snakes and scared the pirates. From then till now every year the snakes appear at the same spot.
The Monastery of Sisia was built in the 13th Century once a former Byzantine chapel was the wealthiest monastery on the island. According to tradition it is linked to Francis of Assisi who allegedly bequeathed his icon the Virgin of Sission.Maintained and rebuilt from numerous earthquakes by the monks, it was finally abandoned after the great earthquake of 1953 for a new and modern building in close proximity. The fact it was rebuilt so often is testimony to the dedication of the monks. Though still standing in part mostly the old monastery of Sisia has succumbed to the weather and gravity and is in ruins. That which remains hints at its grandeur, the tiled floor of the chapel, fading frescoes in the small alcoves and the underground water chamber.
Lourdas beach is a quaint coastal settlement located 17km southeast of Argostoli, the capital of Kefalonia. The settlement stands on the hillside overlooking the blue sea. It is quite popular for its well-organized beach where many visitors enjoy a refreshing swim, right after their arrival to the village. The beach is surrounded by a green landscape with thick vegetation and beautiful waterfalls running through the mountains. The combination of the crystalline waters and stunning mountain backdrop of Mount Aenos provides a dream scenery that captivates all visitors. The beach is covered with white sand and two rows of sunbeds and colorful umbrellas. Right above is the main road of Skala filled with plenty of restaurants, cafes, local shops and other modern amenities.
Poros village is an attractive coastal settlement located 40 km south west of Argostoli, the capital of Kefalonia. Today it has a population of about 1100 inhabitants. Built around a marvelous landscape of lush green forests, Poros is also home to a picturesque port that serves itineraries to Patra and Killini, in Peloponnese. The combination of dense and verdant vegetation along with the crystal blue sea makes this village one of the most perfect summer destinations.The village has important sightseeing that one should definitely see. Among them is the impressive Drakena Cave and the superb gorge of Vohyna.
The Venetian Castle of Saint George is located 7 km south east of Argostoli, above the village Peratata Kefalonia. It has a polygonal shape and covers an area of 16,000 sq.m. This Castle was originally built in the 12th century by the Byzantines but it was mostly the Venetians who gave it its present form. In fact, its external walls were built in 1504 by the Venetians. The Castle is ruined today and only a few buildings survive. It was not only the time and wars that caused its damages. This Castle also suffered a lot from the earthquake that hit Kefalonia in 1956. At the time of its glory, inside the Castle, there were residences, public buildings, storehouses with food and guns, churches, hospitals, prisons, cisterns of water and generally an organized town. In fact, this Castle was the capital of Kefalonia before Argostoli was made the new capital in 1757. Close to a small square in the castle, you will also see the ruins of the Catholic Church of Saint Nicholas.
Katavothres location is 2km away from the capital.They are cracks near the sea, the water enters and ends up at the other side of the island. This phenomenon discovered in 1963 by geologist Viktor Maourin and Yiosef Chetl. They throwed 160 kilos of paint in one of them. After 2 weeks they found paint at Mellisani Lake till the other side of the island. Before many years, they used watermills to produse power, but now they just stand there as a decoration.
Faros (lighthouse) is a circle building with 20 columns holding it. This building is there from 1828 by J.P. Kennedy when the island was under the command of Caroll Napier. It was the house of the lighthousekeeper till the ionian islands united with greece in 1863. It was destroyed by the big earthquake in 1953 but they re-build it in 1964 according the original plans.
Municipality of Argostoli has been able to build again several buildings keeping the neoclassical style and following the cultural and historical tradition of Kefalonia. The city is developed around Koutavos lagoon and the “Lithostroto”, the principal pedestrian street, will invite you to browse through so many different local shops and to enjoy the local life. All Kefalonia, but especially Argostoli, has always tried to preserve the cultural tradition of the island and inside the town you can find a great example of this. You can visit Korgialenios library (one of the largest in Greece) with its marvelous Byzanthyne icons, the historical museum of Kefalonia and the archeological museum with objects of the Mycenaean period.
Makris Gialos is the most popular beach of Kefalonia. It is located just 3 km from Argostoli and with Platis Gialos, located right next, are the most preferred destinations for swimming for the inhabitants of Argostoli, play with the waves, sunbathing, but also partying at famous beach bars! Makris Gialos is a very long beach, while Platis in width! Geographically, Makris Gialos belongs in Lassi, the suburb of the capital city with green, large, rich homes and restaurants. Makris Gialos is a sandy beach, with golden yellow sand. Although, there is no way to find it without people - even the winter swimmers come in Makris Gialos - the waters are always crystal clear. Blue, clear - a rare thing for sandy beaches with sandy bottom - and shallow, promote the game with sea and wave for children
Lixouri was founded when citizens of Pale/Pali found a new location for a town. The old city was abandoned completely by the 16th century. The oldest document which contains the name "Lixouri" was sent in 1534 by local authorities to the Senate of Venice. In the 19th century Lixouri was a popular tourist destination. In the early 1950s the Royal Family of Greece sent their children for summer holidays to Lixouri. In the 1990s Lixouri became again a popular tourist destination and some larger hotels were built south of the town near the beaches.
Lixouri is the home town of the poet and satirical author Andreas Laskaratos, who wrote about the life in his home town. Kay Cicellis book "Death of a Town" (1954) begins in Lixouri and describes the time of the earthquake. In 1720 Petros Katsaitis, who lived in Lixouri, wrote his play "Iphigenia"; Spyros Evangelatos' edition of the play in 1995 retitled it "Iphigenia in Lixouri".
Saint Gerasimos is believed by natives of Kefalonia to protect them and to also heal them of illness. Many natives of the island name their children after Saint Gerasimos as a tribute to the saint who protects them.The body of Saint Gerasimos is at the monastery, made available for veneration as it has never decomposed. After his death, his body was buried twice and exhumed intact, thus leading the church to ordain him as a saint. Kefalonians throughout the world still revere and pray to him. In 1953, immediately after a powerful earthquake on the island of Kefalonia destroyed 90% of the island, there were many claimed sightings of Saint Gerasimos throughout the island who is believed to have comforted and tended to the injured trapped inside homes and buildings. During the feasts of Saint Gerasimos - August 16th and October 20th - his body is passed over ill and sick persons for the purpose of healing them. His body is also displayed by the church during liturgy at the monastery on many occasions. A church named after Saint Gerasimos was established in New York City by Kefalonians who emigrated to New York in the early 20th century.
The Robola wine factory collects and processes almost 85% of the total produce of Robola wine grapes. The island of Kefalonia is the most mountainous Ionian island and without any doubt, it hosts some of the most important vineyards in Greece. The mountainous morphology, the sunshine, the altitude, the variety of the mesoclimates and the marine aura favour viniculture, which is characterized by low yield per stremma and high quality.
Aghia Efimia is the main village of Pilaros region and it is placed along the east coast of Kefalonia. Here in Kefalonia is a well known village, as during recent years, Aghia Efimia from a fishermen village turned into a tourist place. Surrounded by green hills and due to its central position, it is the ideal place for those who love active holidays and want to visit the beauties of Kefalonia island. Indeed, it is in a short distance going south from the village of Sami and Antisami beach while, going to the opposite coast, there are the famous Myrtos beach and the village of Assos.
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