kefalonia cephalonia kefalinia greece hotels villas apartments

CEPHALONIA the largest of the Ionian chain and offering some of its best beaches. Kefalonia has taken time to embrace tourism and still offers traditional villages as well as excellent resorts. The Mount Ainos National Park provides stunning vistas and a treat for nature lovers. Try some of the enticing local wines and enjoy the open space - a real gem for the independent minded traveler. Go and read 'Captain Corelli's Mandolin' for a wonderfully evocative portrayal of the island, its peculiar charm and dramatic history.
The largest and most beautiful island in the Ionian Sea, with its soaring cliffs and mountains to its velvet-blue and emerald green seas with huge beaches of crystal clear waters ideal for swimming, sea sports and fishing. In Cefalonia the scent of thyme is in the air, the pine clad hills rise above you and the blinding Greek sunshine that has the power to change your mood will give you unforgettable memories. The patron saint is St. Gerasimos. His relics have been preserved for 500 years in a remarkable little church that nestles in a green valley surrounded by mountains. We invite you to explore and admire this unique island of magnificent contrasts and geological phenomena; the island has a road network which links even to the most remote villages giving you a chance to get to know the island better. Enjoy the local famous Robola wine, produced from vines only grown in Cefalonia, a dry white wine and many varieties of red wine and other specialties. During the month of August there is a wine festival in the area where the Robola vines grow and wine is offered to all. Cefalonians are renowned travelers since the time of Odysseus and all over the world you will find Cefalonians who are famous through their careers in business or science. They are ambitious and intelligent with a fantastic sense of humor and lovers of music and dance. Cefalonia is easily accessible by sea or air, with daily flights from Athens, charter flights from Europe and ferry services from Patras and Killini to Sami, Poros and Argostoli. During the summer months we also have ferries from the north and the south of Italy stopping at Sami. Excursions are available to the neighboring islands of Lefkas, Ithaka and Zakynthos.
The IONIAN ISLANDS hug the West Coast of Greece and are distinguished from many of the other Greek Islands by their fertile and lush appearance, brought about by exposure to winter rains. Some of the most stunning beaches are to be found amongst the Ionian chain. Good choices for the independent minded traveler would be Kefalonia or Lefkas; for the more traditional holiday Corfu and Zakynthos also known as Zante are very popular. Ithaka legendary home of Odysseus and Paxos attract a less mainstream clientele as they cannot be reached with direct flights. Spring time in the Ionian chain is a truly delightful experience as the abundance of wild flowers fills the air with a rich aroma - indeed the Italians named Zakynthos Ile fiore di Levante flower of the East because the sailors could detect the perfume of flowers before they caught sight of the island

SVORONATA Village is a mixture of old and new with winding streets and paths that lead down to the various well known beaches such as Ammes beach and Ai Heli beach. At a distance of about 5 kms away you will find the monastery of Saint Gerasimos, a well-known and popular excursion destination. Svoronata area lies approximately 10 kilometers away from Argostoli, the capital and main port of Kefalonia island.	VLACHATA is a pleasant little village near the village of LOURDAS and Lourdas Beach. Down this winding road that leads from Vlachata to Lourdas there are many excellent places to eat and drink, also a number of supermarkets and specialist shops. On Lourdas beach front, there are many more very good tavernas and bars to choose from. Going in the other direction of Vlachata village you will come across Trapezaki Beach. This is a beautiful sandy beach and very safe for swimming, the gently sloping sandy bottom remains shallow for up to 50 meters into the sea.	SPARTIA is a small village approximately 12 kilometers from Argostoli town. Spartia beach which is sheltered from the winds is a lovely sandy beach. The whole area of Spartia is very green with trees and lush vegetation, providing a contrast to the blue of the sea.
HOTELS IN SVORONATA AREA Astra Village Hotel 3* Irinna Hotel 3*	HOTELS AND VILLAS IN VLACHATA, LOURDAS AREA Little Buckland Villa apartment	HOTELS IN SPARTIA AREA Panas Hotel 3***

LIXOURI is the second largest town Kefalonia island. Here you will find some museums as well as shops, tavernas and cafes. In Lixouri area there are many beaches worth visiting such as the red sand beach of Xi. Also worth exploring are the many traditional Kefalonian villages in the area of Lixouri.	On the east coast SAMI which lies 25 kilometers away from Argostoli, has ferry services to the Peloponnese mainland Greece and Ithaka. It is Sami where much of Captain Correllis Mandolin was filmed and this is evident in the local Tavernas where you will find photographs of the stars of the film. Nearby is Drogkarati Cave which drips with stalactites. It is the size of a large concert hall and is sometimes used as such due to its fine acoustics. The subterranean Melissani Cave-Lake was a sanctuary of Pan in Mycenaean times. Part of its limestone ceiling has collapsed creating a haunting place with deep blue water.	ARGOSTOLI the capital of Cephalonia island offers a wide choice of shops, tavernas cafes and bars. Argostoli with it;s many squares full of cafes and life as well as the pedestrian promenade of the port is very much worth exploring. Also worth visiting in Argostoli is the archaeological museum and the Korgialenio library. Visit Kabanas square where from the top of the bell tower you will have magnificent views of Argostoli and the surrounding area. Using Argostoli as your base you can easily visit LASSI which offers some of the best golden sand beaches on the island of Kefalonia.
HOTELS IN LIXOURI AREA Terra Mare Hotel Bungalows

FISCARDO at the north of kefalonia island and approximately 50 kilometers from Argostoli, still attains its Ionian charm, with its traditional houses and tavernas right by the water. Fiscardo is one of the few places in Kefalonia that survived the great earthquake of 1953. The village is very cosmopolitan nowadays with many a sail boat visiting and mooring in Fiscardo natural bay. Five minutes from the village you will find a small pebbly beach for swimming in the blue water of the Ionian sea.	SKALA village with the longer beach of the island the beach of Skala stretches for about 5 kms, with many restaurants and bars alongside the beach. Skala is situated approximately 35 kilometers away from Argostoli. Skala with its pine forest and the waters of the Ionian provides a pleasant contrast between green and blue. The resort of Skala is also ideal for walkers who wish to discover the beauty of the countryside.

KEFALONIA ISLAND INFORMATION AND HOTELS