Kefalonia Tourism Information Kefalonia , Ionian Islands, Greece .
Kefalonia is the largest of the Ionian Islands and covers an area of 781sq km, has a coastline of 253km and about 45,000 inhabitants. Kefalonia is situated between the islands of Lefkada on the north and Zakynthos on the south. It is in distance of 52 nautical miles from Patras and 22,5 from Kyllini. It is a part of Kefalonia and Ithaki Prefecture with nine municipalities, eight on the island of Kefalonia and one is Ithaki a separate island. The Prefecture of Kefalonia also includes the islands of Kastos and Kalamos. Kefalonia is named after its shape meaning ‘island with a head’ after the Greek word for head ‘kefali’. The capital of the island and also a port is Argostoli home to one third of the island’s inhabitants. There are three more harbours on the island Sami, Poros and Lixouri.
Kefalonia is mountainous with highest Mount Ainos(1629m) and Paliki mountains to the northwest. Mount Ainos has been declared a National Park because is the only mountain in the Mediterrenean to posses a unique fir forest species called Abies Kefallia and inside the park the wild horses of Ainos can be seen. Touring around the island there are many picturesque villages such as Fiscardo a traditional settlement with beautiful neoclassic buildings, Assos one of the most scenic villages, Sami the second busyiest port with many archaeological findings and many others. Kefalonia is characterised by a landscape of astonishing natural beauty with tall forested mountains interchanging with rocky hills, valleys that as they reach out to the sea are transformed into fertile plains and golden beaches, amazing lakes and rivers and natural caves, the impressive sinkholes. Kefalonia is definitely one of the most popular holiday destinations in Greece not only because of the amazing landscapes but also for the friendly noble inhabitants characterised by their unquiet spirit and soul.
Many notable people were born in Kefalonia such as: Juan De Fuka (Ioannis Fokas) captain and explorer (1536-1602), Nikos Kavadias (1910-1975) author and poet, Andreas Gerasimos Michalitsianos (1947-1997) Greek-American astronomer and NASA astrophysicist, Dionysis Zakynthinos the greatest Greek Byzantinologist, Gerasimos Sklavos the greatest Greek sculptor of the 20th century, Panagiotis Kavvadias the father of the Greek archaeology and many others.
According to archaeological findings Kefalonia was one of the first regions inhabited in Greece. During all those years many foreign civilizations tried to conquer it. During the Palaeolithic era Kefalonia was divided into four cities States Sami, Pali, Krani, Pronnoi forming the ‘Tetrapolis’ (meaning four towns). These cities were autonomous and had their own coins. Phillip of Macedonia attacked the island in 218BC but he was defeated. In 187BC the Romans conquered the island and turned it into a naval base against mainland Greece. During the Byzantine period the threat of the pirates grew especially the Saracens. The 11th century was the end of the Byzantine era and Kefalonia was consequently conquered by Franks, Normands and suffered the Turkish dynasty when Ahmed Pasha and his troupes ruled the island for few years. In 1500 the Venetian era began which lasted for 300 years. Saint Georgios Fortress was the capital at that time and when it was destroyed by an earthquake in 1757 the capital was moved to Argostoli that remains until today. The Venetians had divided the society into three classes and the noble class, the richest and wealthiest had all the privileges creating an atmosphere of conflict between the inhabitants. So when the French arrived in 1797 they were warmly welcomed as Napoleon had promised the abundance of the oligarchy created by the Venetians. At this period schools were established, the National Library and art and literature were blooming.
In 1800 the state of Seven United islands was created as the first independed Greek state but as occurrences continued the island fell under the French once again. In 1809 British came to the island and the United States of the Ionian Islands was established under the protection of Great Britain. Although Kefalonia was never under the Turkish rule their inhabitants helped the Greek revolution for indepedence and they were finally united in 1864 along with the rest of the Ionian Ιslands. During WWII the allied forces of Italians and Germans occupied the island. In 1943 more than 50,000 Italian soldiers were slaughtered by the Germans described in the famous book ‘Captain Corelli’s Mantollin’ by Luis de Bernieres. In August 1953 a major earthquake of 7 Richter destroyed the island completely except Fiscardo that remained untouched. Towns and villages were rebuilt and the few people who remained on the island found the strength to go on with their lives.
Kefalonia weather online
Myths and Legends of Kefalonia
The island is said to own its name to the first king of the area, Kefalos who founded Tetrapolis, the four main cities of the island and named them after his four sons, Sami, Pali, Krani and Pronnoi.
According to some analysts of Homer’s descriptions Odysseus’s home is not modern Ithaki. It is said that once Kefalonia and Ithaki were joined because Homer was speaking of a large island and facing the western sunset whereas modern Ithaki faces east. Many believe that Kefalinia was Odysseu’s home and the area of Alalkomenes where the remains of the Acropolis were found it is believed that it was the palace of Odysseus.
Archaeological Sites
The Fortress of Saint George was built by the Venetians in the 16th century on a hill south of Argostoli and it was the first capital of Kefalonia until 1757. It covers an area of 18,000 sq. meters and its highest altitude is 305m. Inside the castle there were public buildings, temples, stone houses, hospital, prisons but today only the remains of a bridge are saved, the exterior walls and in the yard the remains of the Catholic church of Saint Nikolas. The earthquacke of 1953 caused severe damages.
The Fortress of Saint George was built by the Venetians in the 16th century on a hill south of Argostoli and it was the first capital of Kefalonia until 1757. It covers an area of 18,000 sq. meters and its highest altitude is 305m. Inside the castle there were public buildings, temples, stone houses, hospital, prisons but today only the remains of a bridge are saved, the exterior walls and in the yard the remains of the Catholic church of Saint Nikolas. The earthquacke of 1953 caused severe damages. The Fortress of Assos was constructed by the Venetians in the 16th century and finished very quickly because of its strategic importance. Its purpose was to protect the inhabitants from pirate’s raids and the Turks. Today the visitor can see the walls, parts of the barracks and the church of Saint Marcus but the most impressive is the dome-shaped entrance of the castle still very well preserved. The Cyclopean Walls were created somewhere between the 7th and 6th century BC three kilometres east of Argostoli where ancient Krani used to be. These walls were perfectly aligned and due to the big size of the rocks were called Cyclopean. Legend has it that they were built by the one-eyed giants the Cyclops. Unfortunately the walls are in a bad shape today by many elements but a large section of the walls still remain. The Cyclopean Walls are a good example of ancient Greek art of fortifications and a great site of the visitors of the island. Graves in Mazarakata is an ancient cemetery discovered by Kavvadias the Greek archaeologist from Kefalonia in 1908 located 9km from Argostoli. It is a tomb with 16 caves containing 83 graves divided up according to family. The graves were found intacked full of pots with beautiful colours and funeral gifts such as tiles, gold plates, pieces of glass and chains. Most of these are kept in the Archaeological Museum of Argostoli. Roman Mansionwas discovered in 1956 in Skala. It was the villa of a wealthy Roman from the 3rd century with a very impressive mosaic floor. The mosaic shows the sacrifice of 3 animals, a bull, a roam and a wild pig, while another inscription shows an allegoric picture of Envy as a youth suffering from other people’s happiness. Mycenaean Tomb is an important archaeological monument found recently in Tzannata and showing the existence of Mycenaean civilization. The tomb is very large and well preserved, it is orientated to a south north direction and has a diameter of 6.8m and is 4m high. Inside many graves were found dating from 1400 to 1000BC. The graves of Lakythra are tombs dating back to 1250-1150BC. The findings belong to the Mycenaean period more than 400 vessels others with tiny openings, others large or small, characteristics of the Mycenaean period. The Monastery and Church of Agios Gerasimos is on the top of the Omala valley near the villages of Fragata and Valsamata. Agios Gerasimos was a monk and arrived in Kefalonia in 1555. He lived in a cave and he was known as a teacher and a healer. He died in 1579 and his relics are kept in a glass relic case which is placed above the saint’s tomb. The church is built above his tomb and the cave where he lived and prayed. Some plane trees were planted by the Saint which is still preserved in the monastery. A new impressive church was completed in 1992 within the monastery. On the 16th of August and the 20th of October a procession takes place and the Saint’s remains brought out and placed under the plane trees he planted himself. The procession is followed by a feast with music, dances and food.
Kefalonia Natural sights
The lake and cave of Melissani is a stunning cave of extreme archaeological and geological interest situated 2km from Sami. It is one of the most magical and significant places to visit in the whole of Greece. The cave is ‘B’ shaped with two chambers separated with land 40m wide, 36m high and 3.5m long. The water has a depth of 20 to 30 m and is a mixture of seawater and fresh water. On the roof of one of the chambers is a big oval opening and when the sun is right above the rays hit the turquoise waters and the whole cave is lit with blue light creating a magical illusion. The second chamber is dark, with many stalactites lit with electric lights. The cave was used as a sanctuary of God Panas and excavations carried out in 1951 brought to light many artefacts dating back to 3rd and 4th century BC. Myth has it that the cave was named after the nymph Melissanthi who committed suicide because of her unreturned love for God Panas and the dolphins having been used by the nymph to deliver her messages turned into stone after her death. The stalactites inside the cave have the shape of dolphins. On the top of the cave a balcony has been placed so that visitors can see the cave from above. The cave of Melissani is an out of the world experience.
Katavothres is a very rare and astonishing geological phenomenon unexplained for centuries 3km outside Argostoli. The phenomenon is that large amounts of seawater disappear in the site, through underwater tunnels pass at the bottom of the sea and the mountains and end up in the east part of the island. In 1963 a geologic team added purple dye in the water, followed its flow that reached the Melissani cave 15km away in a semi salted form in a trip of just two weeks. It is definitely a place that the visitor must see. Drogarati cave is estimated to be 150 million years old 37 meters below ground. It is a very impressive cave with polychrome stalactites and stalagmites. The rocks are made from iron, chalk and limestone and that is why there are white and red coloured formations. Inside the temperature is always 18 degrees Celsius and there is plenty of oxygen.
The Movie: Captain Corelli’s Mandolin
During the summer of 2000 the island of Kefalonia was greatly raised as filming took place for the movie ‘Captain Corelli’s mandolin’ based on the novel by Louis de Bernieres. The novel is based on events that took place during WWII on the island of Kefalonia. When the Italian troupes arrived at the idyllic Greek island appreciated the place and the locals and felt bad for their invasion, so much unlike their war partners the Germans. Captain Corelli (Nikolas Cage) a kind person with love for the music and hate for the war wins the love of the local doctor’s daughter Pelagia (Penelope Cruz) although she is to be married with Mandras (Cristian Bale). The film was released at the end September 2001. It was shot on many beautiful locations on the island such as Sami where captain Corelli and his men march towards the harbour and the battle between Italians and Germans, Antisamos beach it was the location of the Italian camp, the famous Myrtos beach the scene of the exploding mine, Horgota beach known as Mandras beach (from the movie character) the place where he was kissing Pelagia, the picturesque village of Farsa and many others. The film was directed by John Madden and the photographs of the azure skies and the beautiful beaches with the turquoise waters made it the movie of the year.
Resorts, Beaches and Villages
Argostoli is the capital of the island since 1757 and the main natural port with a population of 14,000 inhabitants. It is located on the southern part of the island, surrounded by wooded mountains and built amphitheatrically with a view to Koutavo’s lagoon. The entire town with the Venetian buildings was destroyed from the earthquake of 1953 but the town was built from the start to become a modern town with traditional elements. At the entrance of the town is Drapano Bridge a stone bridge constucted in 1813 by the Swiss De Bosset who was in the service of the British army.
The original bridge was wooden and it was made so that the villagers could communicate easily with the capital. In the middle stands the scenic obelisk a small pyramid dedicated to the British Empire. The heart of the town is Valianou square full of cafes, bars, restaurants and four hotels in each one of the corners, the place where the locals gather for the night out. Lithostroto Street is the commercial street with all the shops, the church of Saint Spiridon and the clock tower of Cabana square wherethe inhabitants burnt the bible of the aristocrats when the French arrived. The Archaeological Museum houses a collection of artefacts such as coins, vases, bronze weapons from the Mycenaean, the Hellenistic and the Roman periods. The Korgialenian Library (with 50,000 books) and the Folklore Museum are housed in the same building and exhibits items of life in Kefalonia during the 19th century. The theatre of Kefalos is a beautiful new building considered as one of the best theatres in Greece. The lighthouse of Agii Theodori, the trademark of Kefalonia, built by the British governor Napier in 1829 is a small round building with Doric columns. The port of Argostoli is very busy with most frequent the Lixouri ferry (every half hour) and the large ferries for Patras. In close distance of Argostoli are the organised beaches of Makris Gialos, Platis Gialos, Gradakia and Kamaroules awarded with the Blue Flag for their cleanliness. Nightlife is vivid for every taste. Argostoli is a cosmopolitan place ideal for unforgettable vacations. Lassi is a very developed resort because of its beautiful beaches of Makris Gialos and Platis Gialos. Lassi is full of hotel complexes, restaurants offering a variety of Greek and international dishes and few lively bars. Makris Gialos is a fully organised beach with golden sand and clean waters. Watersports, jet skis and water ski are available as well as a very nice beach bar. Platis Gialos is a much smaller beach, very clean with some interesting rocks to the side. It is not as organised as its neighbour, much quieter but lovely as well. Avithos is a sandy beach located at the south west of the island a couple of kilometres from Argostoli. The beach is located in a very peaceful area facing the island of Dias where in antiquity there was an altar of Zeus. The beach is usually not very crowded and the waters are shallow ideal for families. At one end there are few rocks and the beach is more private attracting nudists. There are sun beds, umbrellas and a tavern. There are turtles on this beach so their code must be followed. More beaches on the southwest are Gradakia, Kalamia and Paliostafida. Lixouri is the second largest village located on the large bay of Argostoli built where the ancient city of Pali, one of the four most important ancient towns, used to be. The locals refer to it as Piccolo Paris as it is one of the most known tourist resorts in Greece. Platia Petritsi is the main square with many bars and cafes. The 1953 earthquake left two mansions still standing and one of them the Lakovaton houses the Library and the museum. Nearby are the Byzantine monasteries of Koronatou and Kipoureon worth visiting. In Lixouri was established one of the oldest philharmonic orchestras and its inhabitants are famous for their musical skills. In the area around Lixouri are some of the nicest beaches on the island others organised and crowded and others small and isolated. Lixouri has all sorts of accommodation, many restaurants bars and clubs with live music. Petani is a Blue Flag beach located on the west coast of the Lixouri peninsula very similar to Myrtos. The rocky cliffs end up in the sea with the wonderful colours of turquoise to cobalt blue. Xi is a Blue Flag beach situated south of Lixouri and is one of the most famous beaches of the island. It is a long beach with orange and red sand and shallow clear waters making it ideal for children. Xi beach offers all the comforts to swimmers, accommodation, watersports facilities, sun beds and umbrellas and beach volley. The visitor in Xi beach can enjoy a mud bath if the sand is mixed with the water. Kounopetra is a beach at the south west part of Kefalonia famous for the big rock that moved rhythmically every 20 minutes but after the earthquake of 1953 it stopped. Near that rock is a small tavern. The beach is very similar to Xi with red sand and clear shallow waters ideal for children. Lepeda is a sandy beach with red and orange waters located 2km south of Lixouri. There is an interesting cove and a small pool created by the rocks ideal for snorkelling. On the beach there are sun beds and umbrellas, a beach bar, boats and canoes for hire. Walking on the beach the cave and the monastery of Agia Paraskevi can be found where the local story says that the water dripping from the walls of the cave is a remedy for the eye infections. More beaches around Lixouri and the west are Agios Spiridon, Megas Lakkos, Agia Eleni, Platia Ammos, Vatsa bay and Farsa beach. Fiscardo is the only village on the island that stayed intacked by the 1953 earthquake. It is a lovely picturesque village located on the far north of the island 50km from Argostoli. The village is based around the ‘L’ shaped waterfront with the coloured Venetian buildings, many restaurants, cafes and bars overlooking across the water the islands of Ithaki and Lefkada. Fiscardo is a perfect place for evening strolls in the narrow streets of the village and the waterfront when the moonlight is all over the port. The port is full of yachts belonging to Greek celebrities and personalities from the International jet set who visit Fiskardo not only for its beauty but also for dining in the famous Tassia’s tavern. The old lighthouse built by the Venetians is inactive but the Victorian lighthouse built near the old is the active one and both can be visited. From the port there are daily cruises to the islands of Ithaki and Lefkada as well as Onassi’s island Skorpios and Meganissi. During high season a ferry runs from Fiscardo to Vassiliki in Lefkada. A motor boat can be hired for those who want to explore all the nearby secluded pebble beaches and coves. Emblisi is a wonderful beach with pebbles and very interesting rock structures at both ends of the beach. Recent excavations brought to light a small theatre and Roman tombs. Fiscardo is a very impressive settlement with a unique and charming atmosphere. Beaches of the northeast are Kaminakia bay, Agia Sofia, Hagiana, Horgota, Foki bay and Kamini bay. Assos is one of the most, if not the most, picturesque villages in Kefalonia located on the northwest coast 36km from Argostoli. The village is dominated by the 16th century Venetian castle built high on the hill and the coastal scenery is magical as the dense vegetation and the white rocks meet the Ionian blue sea. Assos is the ideal place for those who want to escape their overstretched way of life and just relax or for those who love taking photos, paint or just walk in the neighbourhoods of the village and the beautiful coast. Except the town beach with clear shallow waters there are many more small secluded beaches around and motor boats are available for hire. Assos is not a place for clubbing but a number of cafes and bars are available for admiring unforgettable sunsets in a friendly atmosphere. Myrtos is the trade mark of Kefalonia and one of the most famous beaches of Greece situated in the northwest of the island. The beach is famous not only for the unbelievable colours of the sea changing from deep blue to sky blue and from green to turquoise but also for the surrounding imposing vertical cliffs. For 12 consecutive times it has been voted the best beach in Greece and in the top-ten beaches all over the world and is one of the most photographed places in Greece. More beaches at the northwest region are Kimilia, Dafnoudi, Agia Kyriaki, Alaties and Agia Ierousalem. Agia Efimia was a small fishing village that has evolved to a popular tourist resort. It is located 31km from Argostoli on the east coast and is reached passing through a beautiful green landscape. Its natural boarders are mountains to the north and south and sea to the east and west. The port of Agia Efimia welcomes every summer thousands of tourists, yachts and sailing boats. The port is lined with cafes restaurants and bars where the visitor can relax in a hospitable atmosphere and enjoy the wonderful views of the island of Ithaki and the sunset. There are many pebble beaches and coves and some of them can be reached by road while for others a boat must be hired. There is a regular ferry service from Agia Efimia to Lefkada and to Ithaki. Tourist infrastructure is getting better and better every season to meet all demands. Sami is located in the east coast of Kefalonia, 22km from Argostoli, on Sami bay near the ruins of one of the four main ancient cities. The surrounding area is of amazing beauty with spectacular views across to the island of Ithaki. The waterfront of the village has a number of restaurants, cafes and lively bars. It is a very busy port, connecting the island to Patras and Italy with large ferries, water taxis, local ferries and cruises to the island of Ithaki. Nearby Sami are the famous caves of Drogarati and Melissani, the monastery of Agrilia with a panoramic view of the island and some astonishing beaches. An important scene of the movie ‘Captain Corelli’s Mandolin’ was filmed at the port that transformed modern Sami to wartime Argostoli. Antisamos is a wonderful beach, one of the best on the island,attracting thousands of tourists. It is located near Sami 22km from Argostoli in stunning scenery surrounded by verdant hills. The beach has pebbles and the waters have the shades of blue. The monastery of Agrilion is high up above the beach offering excellent views of Sami and the beach. There is a water sport centre, a cafe and a restaurant. Poros is a seaside small town located in the southeast of the island 40km from Argostoli. The main square is full of restaurants, bars and traditional Greek tavernas. The port of Poros serves the harbours of Patras and Kyllini in the Peloponnese, many caicques organise daily trips to nearby beaches and cruises to the islands of Ithaki and Zakynthos. The beach of Poros is one of the best in the island with a length of 2km and crystal clear waters. Nearby is the monastery of Atros the oldest on Kefalonia and a beautiful gorge that legend has it was made by Hercules. More beaches on the southeast are Paliouras, Paradise and Karavomilos. Skala is the largest resort in southern Kefalonia 37km from Argostoli and 12km from Poros. In Skala tourists will find many restaurants, cafes, bars and accommodation mainly on the main road but the characteristic about the village is the very long sandy beach with the crystalline waters and the pine trees that separate the sea from the land. On the beach watersports are available and lively beachbars and along the coast more secluded beaches can be found. Close to the village are the remains of the Roman Villa with the impressive mosaics. Lourdata is a village built in a magnificent location of steep hills ending up to a beach on the second largest bay of the island 16km from Argostoli. At the background Mount Ainos with pine and cypress trees and the fertile valleys characterise the area. Every year there is more development to meet with tourist demands as thousands of people come to Lourdata. The beach (Lourdas beach) is quite long with fine sand and deep azure waters and few tavernas can be found there offering excellent sea food. Pessada is the local port for the ferries to Zakynthos and a fishermen’s harbour located at the south part of the island. It also has a beautiful beach ideal for those who want privacy and for snorkelling. The beach has soft sand and behind the slippery rocks another small bay is hidden. There are no beach facilities here except a cantina. Nearby is the church of Estavromenos. Agios Thomas consists of two small sandy beaches located near the village of Karavados. It has many rock formations for sunbathing and is ideal for snorkelling. The first beach has a tavern and the other a nice snack bar offering nice view of the bay. The village of Karavados has natural spring waters. Spartia is a bay ideal for snorkelling and paradise for sailing because of the wind conditions of the area. Some beautiful houses are built on the green hillsides that deep into the water. In one side is a jetty used by fishermen. More beaches on the south are Mounda bay, Katelios, Koroni, Sisia, Megalipetra, AiHelis, Trapezaki, Agia Pelagia and Ammes bay.
Accessibility
Kefalonia has an International airport 9 km south of Argostoli at the area of Svoronata. Apart from the scheduled flights to and from Kefalonia during the summer the island can be reached by plane with charter flights from many European airports or via Athens with departures from London Heathrow and Manchester. There are everyday flights with Olympic airways and Aegean airlines from International airport of Athens and the flight time is 45 minutes. Kefalonia is also connected with Thessaloniki, Corfu, Zakynthos etc. The charter flights from the UK depart from London Gatwick, Birmingham, Bristol, Cardiff, East Midlands, Luton, Manchester and Newcastle with Thomas Cook Airlines, Thomson Fly, Avro flights, XL Airways, First Choice Airways and MyTravel Airways.
There are daily ferry services to Kefalonia from various places. Daily ferries depart from Patras (3 hours and 30m) and the port of Kyllini (1 hour and 15m) in the Peloponnese and the port of Astakos in Aitoloakarnania (2hours and 15m). There are also connections with Kefalonia ferries to all the ports on the island, Ithaki (Vathi), Lefkada (Nydri and Vassiliki) and the ports of Italy (Ancona, Bari, Britizi, Venice). From the ports of Ratras and Kyllini to Poros and Sami, from Ithaki to Sami, from Lefkada to Fiskardo. The ferry lines that go to Kefalonia are Ventouris Ferries (Bari-Kefalonia), Agoudimos Lines (Bari-Kefalonia), Superfast Ferries (Ancona/Patras, Bari/Patras), Anek Lines (Ancona-Patras), Minoan Lines (Ancona-Patras), Strintzis Lines (Patras and Kyllini), Endeavor Lines (Britizi-Kefalonia) and Ionian Ferries (Kyllini-Kefalonia).
For arrivals with yachts and private boats they can refuel and get supplies in the ports of Fiscardo, Agia Efimia, Poros, Sami and Argostoli.
KTEL has daily intercity bus routes from Athens and Patras to the ports of Patras and Kyllini and from there the correspondent lines to the ports of Kefalonia (Sami, Argostoli, Lixouri and Poros).
The road network on the island is quite good and all the villages and the settlements are easily and frequently accessed by the local bus service.
Greece