Regions of Kefalonia
Kourkoumelata
One of the prettiest villages is Kourkoumelata. The village is 10 km from Argostoli, located in the southwestern part of the island. The story begins in the village where 15th century inhabited by the first inhabitants Kourkoumelis, from where it got its name.
The earthquakes of 1953 proved disastrous for most villages. The reconstruction of the villages vary. The shipping family Vergi rebuilded the entire village from scratch on one condition; That it will be built by the rules of proper street planning and conservation of the neo-classical character of the village.
The village has a band of Livathos, churches and sports facilities. Kourkoumelata is said to be the most beautiful village in the Balkans.
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Lassi
Within walking distance from the beaches of Makris and Platis Gialos and just 1 km from Argostoli, you come across the peninsula of Lassi. This area is organized with all the necessary tourist infrastructure and offers a vibrant nightlife. These beaches are the most cosmopolitan beaches you can swim, while drinking your coffee in the sun and eating Kefalonian unique dishes.
In Lassi you can admire one of the most beautiful sunsets while it lies next to one of the most famous attractions of Kefalonia; Lantern of Agios Theodore, which dates from 1829 and is of Doric. The reconstruction after the earthquake in 1953 retained its architectural character. You can also visit the Sinks.
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Peratata
Southwest of Kefalonia and 8 km from Argostoli is the traditional village Peratata. This is a beautiful green village, built on the slopes of mount Ainos. The village’s population stands at 500 residents. The western part of the village is called Travliata. On the hill north of Peratata, lies the fortress of Agios Georgios (St. George) which dates back to the 12th century and covers an area of 16 acres.
Peratata offers peaceful and quiet holidays. There are enough accommodation possibilities, many shops and mini markets, as well as cafes and restaurants where you can taste the delicious traditional Kefalonian cuisine. You can also visit the village streets, where many shops pop up and can provide you with lots of souvenirs for you and gifts for your friends.
Poros
Poros is the third port of Kefalonia and simultaneously a very pretty village which combines the mountain and the sea.
The last years, Poros has seen great tourism development. Each year more and more of the island’s guests prefer Poros as their destination.
It is located on the southeastern coast of Kefalonia (14km from Argostoli) and belongs to the Municipality of Elios-Pronni.
The area has great archaeological interest because one of the four ancient cities of Kefalonia was located here.
In the area of Broutzi, excavations have revealed a vaulted tomb of the Mycenaean period, which shows that the area was inhabited from 1400BC.
Skala
Skala is located in the southern part of Kefalonia and is a relatively new village. It was build after the big earthquake of 1953, after the oldest village was completely destroyed.
Each summer brings a fairly large number of tourists to this area; who enjoy the very long and sandy beach of Skala. It is about 35km away from Argostoli and 12km from Poros.
Skala offers a lot of hotels, apartments, restaurants and cafes providing a comfortable accommodation in a peaceful environment.
About 2km from the village one can visit the ruins of the Apollo Temple and the amazing ruins of a Roman villa with an astonishing mosaic floor.
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Zola
In the western part of the island, north of the peninsula Paliki, alternatively on the mountain is the village of Zola. This village will amaze you with its wild beauty and the many paths available for walking. The village has two churches; Church of Visitation and Agios Dimitrios (St. Demetrius).
In honor of the Visitation, a festival takes place every year in the village of Zola. There are three restaurants serving local dishes and two cafes where you can enjoy your coffee, your sweet and/or a drink.
Agia Efimia
Agia Efimia is a beautiful small fishing village and a picturesque harbour that attracts every year many visitors and sailing boats.
Agia Efimia is the capital of the Municipality of Pylaros and lies right across the island of Ithaca. You will come across Agia Efimia driving from Sami to the famous Myrtos Beach.
Beautiful villages and beaches such as the Lithovati Beach await you to. The small chapel in the harbor stands impressively and adds a romantic touch to the magnificent landscape.
Continuing your way to the ravine of Pylarinos, you will see small villages such as Agia Dinati and Kalonoros.
The famous monastery of Agia Dinati “Panagia sta Themata” is worth a visit on the 15th of August during the traditional festival.
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Fiscardo
Fiscardo is located in the north of Kefalonia. It is the best place to make day trips to Ithaca and Lefkada, since it offers a ferry connection as well as a large marina if you are a boat owner.
It is the most cosmopolitan area of Kefalonia with excellent hotel facilities, superb restaurants and a large variety in nightlife. Despite its cosmopolitan profile, the architectural tradition of the island is kept unaffected.
In Fiscardo one will be amazed from the preserved houses with red tiles and small balconies with colorful railings.
The reason behind this is, lies in the fact that it’s the only region of Kefalonia which was not hit by the devastating earthquake of 1953.
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Assos
In the northern part of Kefalonia lies a beautiful village, Assos, belonging to the municipality of Erisos. The village is built like an amphitheatre around the peninsula, surrounded by pine and cypress trees awaiting the visitor to discover it.
Prepare your camera because the scenery is absolutely unique. It is a traditional village which has retained the traditional Ionian architecture for the most part.
The astonishing attraction of this village is its castle, which along with that of Agios Georgios is the most important of Kefalonia. It was built in the late 15th century to protect inhabitants from pirate raids. Great battles were fought here, in order to defend the island of Kefalonia. In the early history the castle was used as a prison from the Greek government.
Although this side of Kefalonia is known for its beach Myrtos, several small and hidden beaches are also worth visiting.