GREEK CITIES
AND GREEK ISLANDS
ABOUT KEFALONIA
Kefalonia is the largest island of the Ionians,
with an area of 781 square km. It has 254 km of
coastline. The island has Lefkada on its
north and Zakynthos on its south, 35 km away
from the mainland.
The prefecture includes the islands of Ithaki,
Kastos and Kalamos.
It has a population of approximately 32.000
inhabitants, most of them living out of
agriculture, fishing and tourism.
Kefalonia is characterised by some massive
mountains.
The highest mountain, Mt Ainos, is culminating
at a high of 1520 metres and it is the
Mediterranean only mountain with a unique fir
forest species, Abies kefallia. For the
protection of this species, the area was
declared National Park.
The island is also known for its many fruitful
plains, lakes and rivers, caves, dense forests
and beautiful golden sandy beaches. It is a
verdant island with many species of wild
flowers.
As all the other islands of the Ionian, and with
all the natural wealth the island has, Kefalonia
was successively conquered by many civilisations:
the Byzantine, the Frankish, the Ottoman, the
Venetian, the Napoleonic and last, the British
Empires.
During the World War II, Kefalonia was overrun
by the Italians and the Germans. Italy's
capitulation in 1943 led to the massacre of
5.000 Italian troops by the invading German
forces. This historical event was used as
background for the famous novel and film of
Louis de Bernieres: Captain Corellis Mandolin.
The island also has hundreds of picturesque
villages and small towns. The largest town is
Argostoli. It is also the islands capital and
main port.
The most famous village of the island is
Fiscardo. It is a picturesque village with nice
neoclassical buildings.
It is also the only village that hasn't been
destroyed by the earthquake of 1953.
The island is one of the most popular
destinations of the Ionians and attracts every
year thousands of visitors.
It is the kind of islands that has everything to
offer to the visitors.
MYRTOS
Myrtos is considered as one of the most
beautiful beaches of the Ionian Islands and has
therefore become the trademark of Kefalonia. It
is an impressive golden sandy beach located in
the north of Argostoli.
It attracts thousands of visitors every year. It
is not surprising that it is one of Greece's
most photographed places. The beach is
surrounded by vertical rock cliffs and the water
looks as if the blue colour of the sea was mixed
with bleaching water.
The beach has a snack-bar and offers sun beds
and umbrellas rentals.
ANTISAMOS
Antisamos is one of the most beautiful Kefalonia
beaches. It is a pebble beach situated near the
village of Sami, 22 km from the islands capital.
It is a beautiful place, with turquoise waters
lying at the feet of some impressive green
hills.
AGIA EFIMIA
The beach of Agia Efimia is situated 9 km from
Sami and 31 km from the islands capital. It is a
large white pebbles beach in front of a nice
village and resort. Many others small beaches
are located in this area. The village has a
number of hotels, shops, taverns and cafes,
situated for most of them around the quayside.
LASSI
Lassi
is the nearest resort from the islands capital,
Argostoli. The resort has some of the most
beautiful beaches of Kefalonia, some of them,
awarded with the Blue Flag for their
cleanliness. The resort has a main street plenty
of hotels, shops, restaurants and bars.
The beaches of the area are: Tourkopodaro,
Platys Gialos, Makris Gialos and Paliostafida.
Platys Gialos and Makris Gialos are the most
famous of the area. Both beaches have been
awarded with the Blue Flag and are very well
organised. The beach offers sun beds rentals and
some water sports facilities.
The beach attracts thousand of visitors every
year for its natural beauty. It has a snack bar.
AMMES, AVITHOS AND AI HELIS
This 3 beaches are situated in the southwest of
the island, just a couple of km from the
capital, in the area of Svoronata. Even if it is
only few minutes from the airport, the area is
peaceful, covered with beautiful vegetation.
Svoronata is also the name of the village
situated a
couple
of kilometres from these beaches.
Ammes is a nice sandy beach and many
accommodations are located around it. The beach
has a snack-bar. Avithos is a sandy beach
overlooked by two tavernas and Ai Helis, the
third beach of the area, is a large sandy beach
with a snack-bar and some sun beds.
ASSOS
Assos is situated on the west side of the
island, 36 km from the capital. It is not one of
the good beaches of the island but the area
really worth seeing. It is a pebble beach with
clear waters. Assos is considered as one of the
most picturesque villages of the island. The
verdant surroundings are beautiful, dominated by
the ruins of a 16th century Venetian castle. A
couple of taverns are perched on the quay side
and overlook the charming little bay.
XI
Xi beach is situated a couple of kilometres away
from the town of Lixouri.
It is a nice long beach of fine orange/red sand
with some accommodations and snack-bars.
The beach is well organised with sun beds and
umbrellas rentals. It also offers water sports
facilities.
AGIOS THOMAS
Agios Thomas is the nearest beach from the
village of Karavados. The road that leads to the
beach stops just above it and next to a tavern.
The place has two beaches. The first, just
bellow the tavern, is a small sandy beach. The
second, at the left, is much larger. To reac
h
it, the visitor must walk trough a rocky slab.
Near the slab is a comfortable snack-bar
offering shadow and a nice view over the small
bay.
HORGOTTA
It is a small pebble beach that was used in the
film Captains Corelli Mandolin. The beach has a
picturesque wooden jetty and deep crystal
waters. The surroundings are beautiful with
plenty of olive trees offering their shade.
LOURDAS
Lourdas is one of the most beautiful beaches of
the island. It is a long beach of white coarse
sand and pebbles. It has clear crystal waters
and beautiful surroundings with Mount Ainos as a
background. It is an organized beach with sun
beds and umbrellas rentals, some taverns and
shops. The area also offers many kinds of
accommodations.
MEGAS LAKOS
Megas Lakos is a beach situated a couple of km
from the town of Lixouri.
It is very similar to the beach of Xi.
Lepeda
Lepeda is situated 2 km south from the town of
Lixouri. It is an orange/red sandy beach backed
by some taverns.
