The Island: Kefalonia
Highlights
In addition to this list, there are many more sights to see, and loads more beaches to visit, but these are known as the ‘popular places’ on the island. Should you wish to see some quieter places and beaches, I can advise you on this.
Myrtos Beach is one of the most beautiful beaches in Greece. During the filming of Captain Corelli’s Mandolin, one of the best known scenes from the movie was shot on this beach. This beach is pure white, so take sunscreen, wear a hat and take lots of water with you.
Assos is the most quaint and beautiful village and a must-see. The Assos Castle and fortress sits atop the hill and if you have the energy for a 50 minute walk to the ruins, you won’t be disappointed in the magnificent views. The castle was built by the Venetian army, in order to protect the inhabitants from pirate raids.
Fiskardo is a very popular destination for yachting folk. It’s an upmarket little village with expensive boutiques and restaurants and is also home to ancient Roman Ruins.
Mount Aenos or Ainos is the tallest mountain in Cephallonia, with an elevation of 1,628 metres. Most of the mountain range is designated as a National Park area and is covered with Greek fir and black pine. There are wonderful walks one can do, if you have the time
Petani Beach is a very popular beach and during the month of August, there is no parking, so take a cab or get a lift! For me, the best time to go is early evening for a swim, followed by dinner at a beach tavern at sunset.
Mega Lakos Beach, near Lixouri, is brown sandy beach with clay cliffs. People like to smear themselves with wet clay, let it dry and then wash it off – it feels like you’ve been to a salon once you feel how smooth your skin is afterwards! The sea is flat and shallow and so this is an ideal place for children to swim.
Melissani Lake is one of the popular places to visit on the island but in July and August there are long queues, so go early. You get into a little boat with a guide who takes you around the cave and that’s about it. It’s a beautiful but small lake.
Saint Gerasimos Church and Monastery: Gerasimos is the patron saint of Kefalonia, so the Monastery of St. Gerasimos is a sacred place for every citizen of Kefalonia. The relics of the Saint are kept in a glass case which is placed above the Saint’s tomb. During the feast of Saint Gerasimos on August 16th, his body is passed over ill and sick persons for the purpose of healing them.
Argostoli Town is the capitol of Kefalonia and in the summer months, it’s really hot and busy during the day, so it’s great to go at night and do some night shopping in the shopping district, followed by a dinner on the main square or at one of the beach front restaurants.
History
History
Like much of Greece, Kefalonia has had a turbulent history. The island was occupied by the Byzantines, Turks, Venetians, British and the Ottomans before it became a Greek state in 1864. During World War II, Kefalonia was occupied by the Axis powers, primarily Italy, whose soldiers were then massacred when the Germans finally occupied the island. My father was a teenager during WW2 and his recollections of the suffering of the Greeks during this time are heart-wrenching.
Geography
Geography
Kefalonia lies in the Ionian Sea. The Ionian Islands are made up of Corfu, Paxi, Lefkada, Kefalonia, Ithaka, Zakynthos and Kithira of which Kefalonia is the largest and the greenest island, with a surface of about 780 km. The Kefalonian coasts are jagged and there are many gulfs, ie: Sami gulf and Antisamos gulf in the north, Argostoli gulf in the centre and Lourdas gulf in the south. Kefalonia is also the most mountainous of the Ionian Islands with Ainos Mount (1628 mt) that divides the island in two parts.
The island has many caves, two of which are visited by thousands of tourists each year, ie: Drogarati Cave and Melissani Cave.
Kefalonia also has some of the most beautiful beaches in Greece, ranging from white pebbled beaches like Myrtos Beach and Petani Beach, to red sandy beaches like Mega Lakos and Xi Beach.
For nature lovers
For nature lovers
The endangered Loggerhead turtles (also known as Caretta-caretta) are the only marine turtles nesting in Greece and the Mediterranean. They can be distinguished from other turtles by their large heads, reddish-brown shells and yellow/brown skin, while they are considered to be one of the oldest species in the world. An adult Loggerhead grows to a length of 1.0-1.2 m, weights between 100-350 kg and can live for around 65 years.
You can view these amazing creatures in the Argostoli Port, particularly in the mornings, around 9.30am, when the fishermen return with their catches and dock along the port.
The Blue Door is available for holiday rentals in the summer months. As of 2019, The Blue Door will also be home to guest hosts, running their own retreats in this little piece of paradise.
The Blue Door is available for holiday rentals in the summer months. As of 2019, The Blue Door will also be home to guest hosts, running their own retreats in this little piece of paradise.
Weather
Spring
Mid-March to May
Is mild; the rains become gradually rarer, and sunny days become more and more frequent. May is a good month and one of my favourite months, before the summer heat kicks in.
Summer
June to mid-September
Is hot and sunny with a maximum temperature of around 30 °C, except in July and August, where temperatures can reach 40 °C.
Autumn
September to November
The weather is a little unpredictable but for me September is the most beautiful month on the island. The sea is still really warm and the evenings are a bit cooler. In October, there can still be many sunny days. The winds and the rains start in November, with the odd thunderstorm.
Winter
December to mid-March
Is cold and rainy; however, there are also a fair amount of warm days. Snow does fall on the mountainous areas and there are very cold winds that blow from the north. Temperatures range from 9-20°C
On arriving on the island, I oversaw the renovation of the house I inherited from my dad and it was a mammoth task, as it had been badly damaged in the 2014 earthquake that flattened much of the island. ‘The Blue Door’ was born and this is where I accommodate my guests on my Retreats.
HOW TO FIND US
Getting to Kefalonia
Ferry or bus
If you are traveling from Italy and you don’t want to fly, there is a direct ferry route to the island from Brindisi (Italy) to Sami (Kefalonia).
If you have landed in Athens and wish to take a ferry to Kefalonia, which is what many people do, you will take a bus from the airport to either Patras or Killini and from there, a ferry to Kefalonia.
Plane
Aegean Airlines flies from Athens to Kefalonia (Cephalonia) every day, the flying time is 50 minutes. During the summer months, there are also many international airlines that fly from Europe and the UK (Scotland, Ireland, England), directly to the island, including many charter companies. From the airport, it is a 10 minute drive into Argostoli Town, the capitol of the island and from there, depending on where you are headed, you can either take a bus or ferry to your destination, or you can hire a car.