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Kefalonia island in Greece

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The largest of the seven Ionian islands (700 sq km2 about). It's highest peak is Ancient Mount Aenos, 1628 m (5341feet). In Greece's west coast, Kefalonia has only 32,000 resident islanders. With Lefkas to the north and Zakynthos to the south the island is firmly on a tourist trail and grows each year as more accommodation becomes available and big tour operators move in.

Despite the annual influx of visitors, mainly Italians, the island is so big it is still possible to get away to places where you are unlikely to meet a soul for days. Vast tracts of forest cloak the rugged limestone landscape, with ten peaks topping 5,000 feet.

Ancient history

Probably the name Kefalonia comes from a hero from Attica named Kefalos who fought on the island in about 5th century BC. The human presence on the island is dated to the Paleolithic period. During the Mycenaean period Cephalonia was flourishing and the island had connections with neighboring Ithaca, Lefkada and even the far-off Cyclades. This communication was abruptly terminated in 1500 BC probably because of the great destruction caused by the eruption of the volcano on Santorini; it was restored two centuries later when the island began to flourish again. From the 11th century BC, until the end of the 7th century BC, there are few facts. In the next century the island became the Ionian Sea center for transit trade.

The 5th century BC was characterized mainly by the development of four important towns on the island: Krane, Pali, Pronoi and Sami. These towns were autonomous, with their own currency, united in the case of a common enemy such as the Persians, but divided during the Peloponnesian War. In 187 BC Cephalonia was occupied by the Romans and became subject to Byzantium nearly six centuries later (395 AD).

Medieval

In 1082 the Norman baron Guiscard tried, without success, to seize the island. The endeavors of the Normans, were taken up by Venetian pirates until the island finally fell into the possession of the Orsinis in 1185. In 1483 it was destroyed by the Turks and in 1500 recaptured by the Venetians who held on to it until 1797, when it was occupied by the French under Napoleon. The French occupation was succeeded by a brief Russian and Turkish one, until the British prevailed in 1809. The British rule came to an end in 1864 and the island was united with Greece.

In the catastrophic earthquake in 1953, sparing only a few spots in the north, entire town and villages where razed, more than 600 people died thousands where injured. Everything was rebuild since 70% of all constructions were demolished. At that time many desperate Cephalonians left their island to seek a better life abroad.

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	Kefalonia island today
	Also spelled Cephalonia modern Greek. The capital and the main port of Cephalonia since 1757 is Argostoli, which is built on the inner coast of its peninsula. After the 1953 earthquake they were left very little remains; one or two houses, the arched bridge stretching across the lagoon and the obelisk at its center, which commemorates the date of its construction. Argostoli is also the seat of the Greek Orthodox Church. The visitor to Cephalonia will be fascinated by the infinite variety of the natural surrounding, where sea, mountain, and small, green plains are harmoniously combined together. KEFALONIA is an island as attractive to walkers as it is to sunbathers. For the walker there are acres of inland forest covered mountains to explore. For sun bathers there are plenty on beaches (many of them among the most beautiful in the Mediterranean. Is one of Greece's best secrets and once voted 10th in a world scenic beauty league, thus it demands and deserves exploration. Beautiful golden beaches, lofty mountains providing the scenic backdrop to hundreds of secluded white coves , the strange cliffs , the cave of St. Gerassimos - the island's patron saint, the Cave of Drongorati, the underground lake at Mellisani, churches and Monasteries perched precariously on cliffs, timeless villages. The limestone rock results in remarkable caves and caverns, some of which have become major tourist attractions. Geologists once grappled with the problem of the disappearing sea which flowed into swallow holes near Argostoli. No-one knew where it went until a couple of geologists tracked it with radioactive dye to the underground lake at Mellisani on the other side of the island. The coast is generally steep and sometimes precipitous as are the mountain roads that cross the island. The heavy winter rains make this one of the greenest and lushest of islands despite the rocky landscape and the Kefalonian fir is widespread. The many olive groves and vineyards (Kefalonia boasts some of the best wine in Greece) are testimony to the islanders' reliance on agriculture before the relatively recent arrival of the tourist. From the traditional Fiskardo to the small tourist town of Poros, and the fascinating villages of Livatho which captivated Lord Byron with their beauty for four months, Kefalonia reveals to the visitor a glimpse of paradise at every turn.

Kefalonia hotels

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