The
largest island in the Ionian, Cephalonia is a land of contrasts.
Just for starters don’t miss the view from the castle at
Assos. On your, left, spread out beneath your feet, lies the enchanting
turquoise bay of Myrtos renowned for its afternoon sun and soft
white sand.  Or
you might swim in the crystal clear water of Poros. You can also
go up to the top of Mt. Enos (1,628 meters above sea level). Its
slopes are covered with tall, cedar like fir trees that grow nowhere
else in the world.
On
other parts of the island you’ll run into groves filled with
olive or orange trees and hillsides studded with grapevines; breathtaking
golden beaches and deep coves, rugged rocky shores or visit famous
caves.
 The
cave at Melissani is actually a partially covered subterranean
lake. When the sun is directly overhead, its rays strike the ultramarine
water, shattering into a myriad phantasmagorical colours. Drogoratl,
on the other hand, is known for its unusual stalagtites.
In
the area of Lassi, 1,5 kilometres from Argostoli, are the famous
Katavothres (swallow-holes), a rare geological phenomenon. Here
sea water enters openings in the rock and “disappears”.
Only recently were scientists able to trace it; they found that
it travels northeast through underground all the way across the
island finally to emerge at Melissani, near the village of Karavomilos,
opposite Sami. (In the past water poured in at such a rate it
was used to power two enormous sea mills.)
Of
the old, immensely attractive city of Argostoli, the capital,
which was destroyed by an earthquake in 1953, 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. During your stay there you could visit its interesting
museums (Archaeological Museum, tel.: 28.300; Folk Art Museum,
tel.: 28.835), its Library, tel.: 28.221 and swim at the famous
nearby beaches of Makris and Platis Gialos.
Lixouri,
Cephalonia’s second largest town, has a peaceful atmosphere,
a lovely 19th century mansion-museum, and vestiges of the ancient
city of Pali. The beaches to the south are among the best on the
island.
South
of Argostoli near the village of Domata lies the church of Panaghia
with an exceptional carved wooden icon screen.
NE
of Domata the Monastery of Aghios Andreas near the village of
Peratata has a wonderful icon collection.
 Above
the monastery looms the castle of St. George built by the Venetians
in 1504. Within its walls there is a small piazza, the Kanoni,
and north of it the ruins of the Catholic church of St. Nicholas.
The view of the fertile valley and its villages spread out below
the castle is splendid.
The
area of Katelios in the southeast of the island, has two outstanding
beaches, one near the seaside hamlet of Katelio and the other
at Skala. In this area were discovered the ruins of a 3rd century
B.C. building from the height of the Roman era, perhaps the home
of a wealthy Roman businessman, which contains excellent, well-preserved
mosaics.
On
the east side of the island are Poros, Saml, and Aghia Efimia
with its pebbled beach. Fiskardo,
the northenmost harbour on Cephalonia, has kept its traditional
colour. Lying opposite and very close to Ithaca, it is surrounded
by a thick cypress glade. On
the west side of the island is Assos, a charming village built
astride the isthmus of the peninsula of the same name, famous
for its picturesque castle.
The good road network, which covers the whole island, makes it
easy to explore Cephalonia from one side to the other: its deep
blue waters, steep bare cliffs, lush valleys, picturesque, secluded
villages.
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