Kefalonia is the largest of the Ionian Islands, mountainous with an indented coastline. The 1953 earthquake destroyed almost every village, and they were rebuilt in modern style: only the north, around Fiskardo, keeps its old Venetian houses.
Kefalonia is linked to the tragedy of the Italian Acqui Division: after the armistice of 8 September 1943 the Italian soldiers on the island refused to hand over their weapons to the Germans; after days of fighting, thousands were killed, many shot after surrendering. A monument in Argostoli recalls their sacrifice. The events also inspired the novel "Captain Corelli's Mandolin".
What to see
| Place | Why |
|---|---|
| Myrtos | One of Greece's most famous beaches, white pebbles beneath a rock wall |
| Melissani Cave | An underground lake with a collapsed roof, where at midday the sun lights up the water; visited by boat |
| Drogarati Cave | Large stalactite cave, sometimes used for concerts |
| Assos | Village on an isthmus below a Venetian castle |
| Fiskardo | Elegant harbour with houses spared by the earthquake |
| Mount Ainos | National park with Kefalonian fir forests and wild horses |
| Argostoli | The main town, with a seafront where sea turtles are often seen |
Other beaches: Antisamos, Xi with its reddish sand, Petani, Skala. The island produces Robola white wine.
Getting there
The airport has summer charters and flights from Athens. Ferries link Kefalonia with Kyllini and Patras in the Peloponnese, with Ithaca and Lefkada, and in summer there are connections with Italy.
See also Ithaca, Italians in Greece and sea turtles.