√ Kefalonia villages

The obelisk of Argostoli		Kefalonia is by extension the fifth largest island in Greece, after Rhodes, Lesbos, Crete and Evia. Kefalonia has an international airport with lots of direct flights, especially charters, from many european countries. If you are traveling to Kefalonia is obviously easier to go by plane directly there, but you can also fly to Athens, Preveza (near Lefkada) or Zante and continue the journey with a domestic flight (Athens), bus (Athens and Preveza to Lefkada) or ferry (Lefkada and Zakynthos). Kefalonia has twelve villages with more than 500 residents, in addition there are many small villages. The island's capital is Argostoli, that is also the administrative, financial and cultural center. Most of the villages of Kefalonia were hit by a strong earthquake in 1953, which destroyed many houses and public buildings. The only village that was not touched by the earthquake is Fiscardo, on the north side of the island, standing out for its colored walls and the picturesque harbor. Argostoli: The largest town on the island with its 9,000 inhabitants is the capital, the financial and the administrative center of the island. Mostly it is a town for the locals with few tourists, made of simple shops and trendy cafes on Lithostrato (the "stone street"), the only paved road of the nineteenth century with walking paths, reserved for pedestrians. Founded in 1757 by the Venetians, Argostoli lost its characteristic traditional face after the earthquake of 1953. Around the daily market, on the shores of the gulf, the atmosphere looks like that of the 50s with simple and traditional buildings. A vague elegance is instead found in Platia Valianou square, the center of the walk after dinner. Argostoli extends over 2 km on the east bank of the peninsula of Lasi. Reinforced concrete buildings and old houses covered in red bricks stand on the low hill, while on the opposite side there are lots of tourist resorts and the nice beaches of Lasi. The long and narrow gulf which separates the peninsula from the center of the island and making Argostoli look like a town on a lake, is crossed by the road Drapano, built by the British in 1812. Nowadays the footbridge is so fragile that it can be crossed only by pedestrians, cyclists and fishermen. Landmarks in Argostoli: Archaeological Museum - The Library of Korgialenios - Agios Spiridonas - Napier's Park - Seawater Mills - The Lighthouse- The War Memorial Beaches near Argostoli: Makris Gialos beach - Platis Gialos beach - Tourkopodero Lixouri: Second largest town, in the past, Lixouri was the most important port of Kefalonia and the headquarters of the Venetians. After the returning of migrants to the country and thanks to many students, Lixouri has been extremly modernized. Several new buildings have been built with the many European funding. The center is the platia, the cobbled square with the impressive ficus near the new theater. By car you can discover the Paliki peninsula: first the beaches to the south, then across the mountains to the steep coast to the west, where the monastery of Kipourion stands out. Landmarks in Lixouri: Iakovatos Museum - The Monastery of Kipouria Beaches near Lixouri: Xi beach - Vatsa beach - Platia Ammos beach - Livadi beach - Petani beach Assos: Beyond the mountain village of Divarata, where the peninsula Erissos starts, a winding road rises snaking up the hill. Down below is the small peninsula of Asos, reached by a blind street that cuts through the many hills full of young cypress trees, proving how the intensive agriculture has characterized the past of the island. In the late sixteenth century the whole peninsula was walled by the Venetians, in order to create a fortress to protect the inhabitants from the attack of enemies. In front of the peninsula stands the village of Assos, at the end of a narrow inlet. Although the beach is short and stony, the resort attracts many tourists due to the atmosphere that reigns in the cafes and taverns of the "square of Paris." The square was so called because the city of Paris had given consistent and effective aid to the people of this village, almost completely destroyed by the earthquake of '53. In fact, walking around the country you can still find many ruined old houses. Landmarks in Assos: The Castle Beaches near Assos: Myrtos beach Fiskardo: Mostly part spared by the disaster of 1953, Fiscardo has remained the most idyllic corner of the island. The many yachts that dock here in the summer give the village a sort of wellness, as evidenced by all the colorful houses, recently renovated and "rejuvenated". Pines, olive trees and cypresses surround Fiscardo, and the walk to the harbour is forbidden to cars. You can swim from both the flat rocks along the harbour bay, and on the nearby pebbled beaches that can be reached on foot in 20 minutes. The town's name derives from the Norman leader Robert Guiscard, who made several raids in the Ionian Islands and who was struck by the plague in 1085 as he was about to attack again. Landmarks in Fiskardo: Norman Ruins Beaches near Fiskardo: Dafnoudi beach Sami: Sami is home to the main port of the island of Kefalonia, but it is not a resort destination. Thanks to the campsite and the long pebble beach, however, there are small groups of young tourists. Some sites of cultural interest close to Sami, however, make it an attractive destination for those who want to go hiking. Landmarks in Sami: Ancient Sami - Melissani Cave - Drogarati Cave Beaches near Sami: Andisamos beach - Melissani Lake Kastro: Despite its beauty, Kastro has remained a quiet town. It lies on a hill above the plain of Livathos up to a Venetian fortress built in the sixteenth century, and which is visible from Argostoli. The houses of the village are small, old and modest, but well-kept. Here still live the natives. Landmarks in Kastro: Monastery of Agios Gerassimos - Fortress of Agios Georgios Livatho: Particularly fertile strip of land, the coastal area around Leivathos has 25 well-kept villages full of flowers, including Metaxata, Svoronata, Domata, Kourkoumelata and Minia. Landmarks in Livatho: Monastery of Agios Andreas Milapidias - Mycenaean tombs of Mazarakata (Tafi Mazarakaton) Beaches near Livatho: Porto Heli beach - Avithos beach - Ligia beach - Trapezaki beach Skala: Completely rebuilt after the earthquake of 1953, Skala is a nice resort much loved especially by the British, with a long sandy beach with dunes and a small woodland right on the seashore. The remains of a Roman villa testify to the presence of an ancient settlement. Landmarks in Skala: Roman villa Beaches near Skala: Kaminia beach - Koroni beach Poros: Situated between a long pebble beach and a small ferry port, Poros extends for 2 km along the coast. Unlike Skala, the city is quiet and not crowded yet, on the other hand is not particularly attractive. Landmarks in Poros: Monastery of Theotokou Atrou - Mycenaean tomb of Tzanata (Tafi Tzanaton) Peratata: Peratata is a small village located 8 km south-east of Argostoli. Built on a hillside of Mount Ainos and surrounded by a verdant landscape, Peratata offers a relaxing stay to its visitors. The houses are made of stone and there are picturesque alleyways leading to various monuments spread throughout the region. The Castle of St. George is located on the hill overlooking the village.
Lixouri harbour
The bay and the port of Fiskardo
Beach and harbor of Assos
View of the harbor of Sami from the ancient necropolis
The village of Poros
The mycenaean tomb of Mazarakata in Livatho
The mycenaean tomb of Mazarakata in Livatho