Argostoli
Around 35,000 people live on the island of Kefalonia and since 1757 the capital has been Argostoli.
Here, over the course of geological time, a rare phenomenon has developed whereby the sea flows underground, disappearing into spectacular underground tunnels that resurface in Lake Melissani. This phenomenon is known as Katavothres.
The Ionian Islands are also famous for being populated by the friendly Caretta Caretta turtles, protected by the WWF.
In Kefalonia it is really easy to see them up close in their natural habitat: be there in the morning along the little port of Argostoli and you will be able to admire them as they pop their heads out to breathe and eat some small fish that are offered to them by the local fishermen.
Near the small port you can see an arched bridge built by the English in 1815 called “The Bridge of Drapanos” while on the opposite bank to Argostoli are the ruins of the ancient city of Krani.
Also worth a visit is the Archaeological Museum of Argostoli, founded in 1957 and completely renovated in 1999.
The museum is divided into three rooms:
- In the first room there are tools dating back to the Paleolithic and Neolithic periods found mainly in the towns of Sami, Fiskardo and Skala
- in the second room there are archaeological finds from the Mycenaean period among which a sepulchral discovery stands out
- In the third room, finds from the Classical and Hellenic era are displayed, including part of a splendid mosaic from the temple of Poseidon in Lixouri
Also in Argostoli, you can visit the monument to the fallen Italians of the Acqui Division, victims of the massacre in Kefalonia by the German army.
Melissani Lake and Drogarati Caves
The water present in the subsoil of Argostoli, through underground rivers, resurfaces after 14 days in Lake Melissani, forming a basin of turquoise and indigo water inside a natural cave of great charm.
Located about 2km west of Sami, this cave is extraordinarily beautiful and you can take a short boat trip inside for €7.
Here trees and sunlight create multiple colors in the deep waters (about 16 and 30 meters) of the two underground caves.
The waters of Melissani then flow into Lake Karavomilos, where a watermill can also be found.
Near Lake Melissani, the Drogarati Cave, about 3.5 kilometers southwest of Sami, features spectacular stalactites and stalagmites that adorn the cave, which has remained intact despite the numerous earthquakes that have struck Kefalonia.
inside
All’interno are so good that it occasionally hosts concerts; the great diva Maria Callas once performed here.
Monastery of Saint Gerasimos
The Monastery stands at 400 metres above sea level and houses the remains of Saint Gerasimos, the patron saint of Kefalonia.
Periodically, the silver casket containing the Saint's relics is opened to allow pilgrims to offer direct prayers and kiss his remains.
The church is an imposing structure, with magnificent murals on the ceiling depicting scenes from the Old Testament.
On August 15th, the death of Saint Gerasimos is commemorated, with a large celebration held in the monastery adjacent to the church, home to a congregation of nuns. Believers flock from various parts of Greece, and various festivals are held in the villages of Kefalonia.
Fortress of Agios Georgios
The Castle is located 300 meters above the village of Peratata, 5 km from Argostoli and is the oldest on the island of Kefalonia.
It is a Byzantine castle, seat of the Venetian Administration, which remained the capital of the island until 1757.
During the Venetian occupation, external defensive walls and bastions were built where the population of the time took refuge in times of danger.
The fortress has a polygonal layout, boasts a perimeter of approximately 600 meters and a surface area of 16,000 square meters.
Currently, the remains of long crenellated walls, bridges, wells, and various cisterns can be seen.
Assos Castle
Once you reach the village of Assos via a strip of land that connects it to the island of Kefalonia, you can continue on foot through a pine forest and reach the top of the promontory where the fortress built by the Venetians to protect the island from possible attacks is located.
Much of the walls are still intact, and the imposing arched entrance gate stands out.
From here, the view along the entire coast is unique, leaving you speechless!
Mount Aenos
Located between Argostoli and Sami, it is the island's most imposing mountain, reaching 1,628 meters.
It became a Kefalonia National Park in 1962 and is a paradise for nature lovers.
Here you can find many flowers, plants , and the rare Kefalonian black fir, as well as various animal species such as reptiles, turtles, the peregrine falcon, and an ancient native breed of horse.
Kefalonia is particularly rich in characteristic places.
What we've outlined on this page represents only a small portion of the incredible variety Kefalonia has to offer.
That's why we created the Blog section where you can make many other discoveries and find pleasant surprises.
