Why Visit
The gifts of nature and here surprise traveler. Beautiful beaches, sea caves with impressive natural scenery, mysteries that you call for the search, such as: Kunupera, Lake and snake Akoli Panagia. Traditional villages and picturesque coves, which are ideal holiday on a yacht. In Argostoli - the majestic capital of the island, you can visit the archaeological museum and the Museum of folk art.
Here are the beaches of Makris Gialos and Platis Gialos.
At 1.5 km from the capital, in the village of Lassi, the famous whirlpools. On the East Bank, near The cave of the Drongarati is known for its stalactites, cave Lake, which is in the mikenskuû era served as a sanctuary. It is also worth visiting the most beautiful beach of Kefalonia-Myrtos, which in 2006 was selected by Forbes magazine as one of the cleanest and most beautiful in Europe.
History
Ancient times
The island owes its name to Kephalos, the first king of the area during the Palaeolithic era. According to the locals, this king founded the four main cities of the island which were Sami, Pahli, Krani and Pronnoi, and named them after his sons. This explains why the island was called Tetrapolis (Four Towns) during this period. Those four cities were autonomous and independent and had their own regimes and coins. The Mycenaean culture left a strong remain in Kefalonia, few Cyclopean walls.
In the ancient times, Kefalonia participated in the Persian and Peloponnesian Wars on the side of both Athens and Sparta. Philip of Macedonia tried to attack the island in 218 BC. He was defeated thanks to the help of the Athenians. The Romans took the island in 187 BC after months of fighting against the resistance of the island's inhabitants. That time, the Ancient Acropolis of Sami was destroyed. The Romans used the island as a strategic spot that would have helped them conquer the mainland. They therefore turned Kefalonia into an important naval base. During this period, the island suffered heavily and frequently from invaders and pirate raids.
Medieval times
The threat of the pirates continued growing during the Byzantine period (from the 4th century AD). The most dangerous pirates were the Saracens. In the 11th century, the island fell under Frankish rule: it was the end of the Byzantine era. Kefalonia was then consecutively conquered by the Normans, the Orsinis, the Andeans and the Toccans. The first Turkish attack was made by the famous Ahmed Pasha, in 1480. Pasha and his troupes ruled the island for a short period of time and devastated the island when they left. Following the same faith as the rest of the Ionian Islands, Kefalonia came under the domination of the Venetians and the Spanish. The political and military centres of the island during this period were the Fortress of Saint George and the Castle of Assos, which was destroyed by an earthquake in 1757.
The capital moved to Argostoli, and is still there today. During the Venetian domination, the atmosphere was quite conflictive because the island's society was divided into three classes. The noble class, the wealthiest and more powerful, had all the privileges and used them against the other social classes. The Venetian rule ended in 1797 with the arrival of the French who were warmly welcomed by the inhabitants as Napoleon promised them to liberate them (and the rest of the Ionian Islands) from the oligarchic system created by the Venetians. The French publicly burnt the Golden Book where the names and privileges of the nobles were written. The French were later defeated by the allied fleet of the Russians, the Turks and the English. The Ionian State was founded in Constantinople in 1800 and was under the supervision of the Sultan. The nobles of the island regained their privileges.
Recent years
After huge popular demand, democratic elections were organized in 1802 and a new Constitution was established in 1803. The island fell again under French domination in 1807 but the new Constitution was maintained. After the Treaty of Paris, in 1809, the Ionian Islands came under the rule of the English and the Ionian State was established. During the English period various important constructions of public interest were effectuated including the Drapanos British Cemetery, the De Bosset Bridge in Argostoli, the Lighthouse of Saint Theodori and the impressive Municipal Theatre of Kefalonia.
Despite the fact that Kefalonia, like the other Ionian Islands, remained under the English rule and escaped the Turkish yoke, its inhabitants financially helped the Greek Revolution for independence against the Ottomans who were ruling over the rest of Greece. Kefalonia was finally united to the rest of independent Greece in 1864, the same time as the rest of the Ionian Islands.
During World War II, in 1941, the island was occupied by the Italian troops which were allied with the Germans. In 1943, Italy capitulated but its troupes refused to leave from Kefalonia. As a punishment, the German forces killed more than 5000 Italian soldiers, a historic fact described in the famous book Captain Corelli's Mandolin, written by Louis de Bernieres.
Museums - Archeological
The historical identity of Kefalonia is strongly related to the Paleolithic times and the Mycenaen period. In the surrounded regions of Kefalonia visitors have the chance to admire a plethora of sites which findings have found their home in the museums of the island.
In Argostoli, the beautiful capital of Kefalonia, lies the Archaeological Museum of Kefalonia, which hosts a lavish collection of ancient findings from the Paleolithic and Roman period. Visitors have the chance to admire hundreds of items, tools, tombs, marble busts and statues from the Classical period. The island is involved with the foundation of other museums as well like the Natural History Museum that hosts interesting findings from the islands of Kefalonia and Ithaca. It aims to introduce the rich natural environment of the island and especially children will have fun while learning.
In the beautiful village of Fiscardo, visitors can find the Nautical Museum which focuses in the naval history of Kefalonia in various periods. In the capital of Kefalonia you should definitely pay a visit at the Historical and Folkore Museum which guards the age-old tradition of Kefalonia. In the beautiful village of Fiscardo lies the Nautical Museum and in Lixouri you can see the Iakovatios Library with a great collection of rare books.
Beaches
Myrtos, Antisamos, Makris Gialos, Skala Beach, Lourdas, Foki Fiskardo, Platis Gialos, Petani, Xi, Agios Nikolaos, Agios Thomas, Ai Helis, Alaties, Ammes, Avithos, Eglina, Emblisi Fiskardo, Kaminia, Katelios, Kato Lagadi, Koroni, Kounopetra, Lagadakia, Lepeda, Limenia, Megali Ammos, Megas Lakos, Minies, Paliolinos, Paliostafida, Pessada, Platia Ammos, Poros Beach, Spartia, Trapezaki, Vrachinari
Religious Monasteries and Churches
The countless Orthodox churches and monasteries of Kefalonia mark the religious faith of the locals and bear witness to nearly two centuries of history which is strongly connected to the Venetian architecture.
In the Omala Valley, between the village of Fragata and Valsamata lies the Monastery of Agios Gerasimos dedicated to the patron saint of Kefalonia. Today, it is the most important female monastery, built by the saint Gerasimos himself in the 16th century. Inside the premises lies a tiny church and a cave where the saint lived. Close to Peratata village lies the Byzantine monastery of Agios Andreas. It was built by three nuns in 1579 and includes within its premises the Ecclesiastical Museum where valuable treasures on display.
Amid a unique landscape, on 700 meters altitude in Peratata village stands the most ancient Byzantine monastery of Kefalonia, the monastery of Panagia Atrou. At least half of the distance can be covered by car and then you have to continue on foot. In any case, the route is ideal for hiking and visitors are impressed by the peaceful atmosphere and the natural beauty.
Near Sami is the 18th century monastery of Agrilion. The monastery was built after the discovery of the miraculous icon of the Virgin, in 1722. If you find yourselves in Lourda village, you should definitely make a stop at the 13th century monastery of Sissia, which used to be the richest monastery of Kefalonia.
At the most beautiful settings of Kefalonia, close to Paliki village stands the historical monastery of Kipoureon. It was built in 17th century and today only one monk lives there. In the village of Makropoulos is located the church of the Virgin Mary Lagouvarda over the site of an old monastery. Other Kefalonia churches are: The monastery of Agia Paraskevi and the church of Estavromenos.
