Greek island of Kefalonia

The Greek island of Kefalonia is the largest of the Ionian Islands and the sixth largest island in Greece. It lies to the north of Zakynthos, and it takes approximately 1.5 hours to sail between the two islands.

The beautiful natural scenery of Kefalonia was the setting for the 2001 Oscar-winning film Captain Corelli's Mandolin, starring Nicolas Cage and Penélope Cruz. The colourful contrast between the green mountains of Cephalonia and the blue waters that bathe the island, the wildness of the local nature and the beauty of the secluded coves are well captured here. Kefalonia is a predominantly mountainous island, with the highest mountain being Ainos (1628 m).

Kefalonia also has a rich history and a long cultural tradition. However, the island's history was greatly affected by the devastating earthquake of 1953, which destroyed mainly the capital Argostoli, but severely damaged towns, villages and monuments all over the island.

Attractions of the island of Kefalonia

A very interesting tourist site is the Drogarati stalactite cave, located in the central part of Kefalonia, about 5 km south of Sami. Drogarati is an impressive cave with magnificent stalactite and stalagmite formations, visitors walk through a long passageway to the "royal balcony" and then can pass by a small lake to a large hall with great acoustics. According to speleologists, the cave is about 150 million years old, but it was only discovered after a massive earthquake exposed its entrance. Although the earthquake damaged the cave, its stalactite decoration is still breathtaking.

Kefalonia is also famous for its underground lakes, the very famous being Lake Melissani, located near the town of Sami, about 500 m from the sea. The underground lake Melissani is a small miracle of nature, formed by the partial collapse of the ceiling of a cave. This gives visitors a direct view of the sky from the cave and the surface of the lake, and if they visit the cave when the sun is high and the sunlight penetrates directly into the cave, they can see how the sun's rays light up the bright blue waters of the lake. The cave also has a second chamber in which stalactites covered with algae and moss grow. This chamber is illuminated by electric lights. Boating on the Melissani Cave Lake is one of the island's most famous tourist attractions.

The sinkholes of Katavothres and the rock of Kounopetra are certainly among the very impressive natural attractions of Kefalonia. The "sinkholes" of Katavothres are located at the outskirts of Argostoli and their uniqueness lies in the fact that a huge amount of sea water disappears into them. These constant flows of water were once used to power water mills, but were unfortunately destroyed in the 1953 earthquake. Today there is a single mill wheel, a replica of the historic ones. From a geological point of view, this is a very interesting phenomenon, since scientists have found that the sinkholes at Argostoli are linked to the Karavomilos springs in the town of Sami and to the Melissani lagoon.

Another natural phenomenon of the island is the rock of Kounopetra, which is located in the sea off the southern coast of the island (Paliki peninsula), near the small fishing village of Kounopetra. Kounopetra Rock is famous for the fact that a piece of this rock moved rhythmically with the sea. However, since the 1953 earthquake, the "moving rocks of Kounopetra" no longer move. It is reported that the great earthquake of 1953 lifted the island of Kefalonia by up to 30 cm, among other things.

Kefalonia has some of the most beautiful beaches in Greece, and Myrtos beach, for example, regularly tops world rankings for its crystal clear water, beautiful blue-green sea colour and interesting surroundings. Other beautiful beaches lie at Skala and Lourdata.

On the island of Kefalonia there is a national park, which is situated around the highest mountain, Ainos (with a peak at 1628 m above sea level). Ainos National Park is home to a rare species of fir tree with a particularly dark trunk, the Kefalonian fir, which was originally found only in this area. Because of the density of these dark firs, Ainos was named Black Mountain. Visitors to the park can also see small, wild horses that live freely here and run around the cliffs.

Argostoli, the island's largest town and capital, is situated on its southern coast. It is a lively tourist centre with a variety of shops, cafes and restaurants, and the centre of all the action in Argostoli is Valianou Square near the harbour. A local attraction is the Bosset Bridge, which connects the two shores of the Koutavos Lagoon (on one side of the bridge lies the town of Argostoli and on the other the village of Drapano). It is the longest stone bridge in the world that crosses the sea, and roughly in the middle of the bridge stands an obelisk on a small island, symbolising freedom. Although the town was almost completely destroyed in the 1953 earthquake and had to be rebuilt, there are still places of old Venetian architecture. Argostoli is also the largest port of Kefalonia.

The second largest town on the island is called Lixouri and is practically opposite the capital, on the other side of the large Lassi Bay. Lixouri is a very picturesque town with a peaceful way of life, ideal for a stroll and a sit in one of the local cafes or patisseries.Skala and Lassi are also among the most popular tourist resorts.

Kefalonia's cuisine is renowned for its yellow cheese, feta cheese, olive oil, honey and special ways of preparing meat, whether veal, lamb or chicken. Well-known and tasty local dishes include Kefalonian meat pie (veal and lamb cooked in a tomato wine sauce with vegetables, mixed spices, garlic, etc.) and chicken tserepa (roast chicken marinated in a brine of oregano, pepper, olive oil, garlic, etc.).

For tourists who like historical and architectural sights, we can also recommend a visit to St George's Castle or St Gerassimos Monastery. St. George's Castle stands high on a hill above the villages of Peratata and Travliata, in the southern part of Kefalonia, and is strongly linked to the history of the whole island. The castle was built in the 12th century during the Byzantine era, after which it fell into the hands of the Turks until it was rebuilt and renovated under Venetian rule in the early 16th century. After the completion of the works, the fortress was used as the main residence of the island of Cephalonia until 1757. Unfortunately, two earthquakes in the 17th century, and especially the devastating earthquake of 1953, damaged the castle considerably and only the ruins have survived to this day. However, the site is still worth a visit, for example, the various coats of arms of Venetian families can still be seen here and the fortress offers a magnificent view of the surrounding area.

The patron saint of Kefalonia is Saint Gerassimos, who founded the Holy Convent of Women here in 1560 and called it the New Jerusalem. Gerassimos planted three plane trees on the monastery grounds, which still grow here today, as well as three wells that he is said to have dug with his bare hands. Saint Gerasimos was known for his miraculous abilities to cure people with mental illness. The Monastery of Saint Gerassimos is considered one of the holiest pilgrimage sites in Kefalonia, and the saint's relics are also kept here. Later, the monastery was supplemented by a newly built church. The Monastery of Saint Gerassimos is located in the interior of the island, under Mount Ainos, near the villages of Fragata and Valsamata.

Boat trip to the island of Kefalonia

The island of Kefalonia can be visited both as a day trip and more intensively with a longer stay. Although Kefalonia still lies a little off the main touristic traffic of the other Greek islands, there is a great variety of accommodation, from private apartments to very nice hotels. Holiday air tours to Kefalonia are already appearing in the offers of Czech travel agencies. We would recommend a stay on the island of Kefalonia especially to those who are looking for peace and relaxation during their vacation.

If you decide to take a boat trip from the neighbouring island of Zakynthos, the ferry to Kefalonia departs from the port of Agios Nikolaos in Skinari. Organised excursions usually focus on Kefalonia's most famous tourist attractions, so a boat trip often includes a cruise on the underground Melissani Lake, a tour of the Drogarati Cave and a stop at Myrtos Bay, one of the most photographed places in Greece. A sightseeing trip may also include a visit to St George's Castle or the Monastery of St Gerassimos. Relaxation and leisure time is usually planned either in the capital Argostoli or, on the other hand, in a picturesque village such as the popular harbour town of Agia Efimia, famous for its traditional tavernas with delicious Greek specialities and the beautiful floral decorations of the resort.

More touristic destinations of Zakynthos

Tips for trips on Zakynthos: Zakynthos Capital City, Marathonisi (Turtle Island), Blue Caves, Aristeon Press and Museum, Olympia, Callinico Winery, Water park Zante Water Village (Sarakinado), Shipwreck (Navagio Beach)

Resorts, beaches, sights or trips - clearly listed on the map of Zakynthos.