----- KEFALONIA ISLAND, IONIAN ISLANDS, GREECE -----

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Kefalonia

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KEFALONIA
IONIAN ISLANDS
GREECE

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Kefalonia or Cephalonia is the largest of the Ionian Islands. It has a population of almost 32.000 inhabitants and the capital is the town of Argostoli. The mountainous morphology of the terrain with the flow of much water creates strange geological phenomena. Rocky shores and sandy beaches are found all over the place.

The airport of Argostoli and the ports of Sami, Agia Efimia and Argostoli are available in order to reach this island.
According to the mythology the island, also called Tetrapolis, was named under Cephalos, the first king. It was divided into four cities under the names Pali, Krani, Sami and Proni, which took their names from the king's sons.

By the 11th century the island became one of the cultural centres of Mycenean Civilization. Archaeological findings such as fossils, animals, bones, tools are kept at the Archaeological Museum of Argostoli.
Kefalonia became a naval base for the Roman forces and a base of operations against the rest of Greece in 189 BC. Following the division of the Roman Empire into Eastern and Western in 395 AD the island already belonged to the Byzantine Empire and played an important part in the defense of the Empire in confronting the pirates who came from North Africa and destroyed the coastal regions of the Mediterranean.

In 1185 the island came under the Franks. Turks also passed later on but not for very long. The British settled in Kefalonia in 1809 and these years played an important role on the development of the island.

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Starting a trip on the island you should start from Argostoli which is located on the southwest coast at a bay under the same name.
The town was completely in 1953 by the earthquakes and the old mansions and bell towers had been ruined. The main street of the city called lithostroto is a cobbled road where you can also do your shopping.
Not only the archaeological museum but the Folklore is a place to visit, located at the ground floor of the Corgialenian Library, a library hosting almost 50.000 books.
Admire superb lace, linen with family monograms, living room with dance gowns, furniture and the Cephalonian bedroom.

At the area of Lassi, 1,5km away from the town, you will admire a geological phenomenon, called "katavothra", where the water of the sea entering holes of the land just disappears. It is said that this water comes out at the village of Karavomylos opposite the village of Sami.

Do not miss the small island of Dias with the Monastery of Panagia Vlachernon.
The fortress of St George rises above the village of Peratata, the first capital of the island in 1757.
Leaving this area you will arrive at the beautiful beach of Lourda, a sandy beach ideal for sea sports.
The well-known Caretta-Caretta turtle finds her shelter at the beach of Ratzakli and lays the eggs in the sand.

On August 15 visit at the village of Markopoulo the Church of Our Lady, where you will be amazed to see small snakes, considered as sacred, during the feast day with black sign of the cross on their heads. The worshippers are photographed together with them. After the feast day is over, the snakes disappear and return the next year.

Continuing to reach the village of Poros will also pass the Tzannata site. More places to visit on the island are the village of Sami, Agia Efimia, Assos with the fortress of the Venetian army and a natural port, the beautiful beach of Mirtos, the village of Fiskardo, the lake of Melisani, the cave of Drogorati with the stalagmites and many others.

Lixouri is the second largest town of the island with 4.000 inhabitants. At the main square you may taste at the little shops many traditional local cakes, but never leave behind a perfect quality honey which one of the islands productions.

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