Photos from Argostoli
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Argostoli is the largest of the Kefalonia villages with a population of 14.000 inhabitants and is the capital and main port of the island. This little town has been the capital of the island since 1757 and is located in the centre of the island’s southern part. Argostoli is standing on the far end of the bay of the same name which is surrounded by mountains and verdant forests.
Venetian buildings used to stand in the town but they were destroyed along with the entire Argostoli and almost all the other towns and villages of the island in the strong earthquake of 1953.
The town has been rebuilt since with the help of the Greek government but unlike the capital of Zakynthos, no efforts have been made to keep the traditional architecture and the local colour.
A stone bridge of 650 metres long called the Drapano Bridge is standing at the entrance to the capital; in its middle a small pyramid called “Colona" (Column) is standing, dedicated to Charles de Bosset who built the bridge.
The modern and cosmopolitan town of Argostoli is very busy and offers many interesting features and activities. It has an attractive coastal road promenade which is boarded by palm trees and beautifully paved with colourful pebbles from the sea. The road finishes to the small ferry quay where boats are serving the town of Lixouri every half an hour and where little fishing boats are mooring.
The central square of the town called Plateia Valianou is a large and pleasant square which is boarded by many restaurants, cafes and bars. During the evenings of summer, the square gets really crowded because it is where the locals go for their traditional evening walk and it is very interesting and enjoyable to observe the Kefalonian way of life.
The pedestrian Lithostroto Street (Cobbled Street) is the commercial street of the capital and is full of many shops. There also stand the beautiful church of Saint Spyridon and the interesting clock tower of Campana Square.
In Argostoli one can also visit the Archaeological Museum of Kefalonia which houses interesting archaeological finds dating back to the Mycenaean, the Hellenistic and the Roman periods; the collection contains coins, swords, sculptures and ceramics from this various periods.
Another worth-visiting museum is the Korgialenios History and Folklore Museum which is housed in the ground floor of the Korgialenian Library; it consists in a reconstitution of a traditional 19th century Kefalonian house and also exposes a rich collection of the island’s photographs.
The imposing library of the capital keeps 50.000 books among which are some very rare and old manuscripts. Nearby the library is the beautiful theatre of Kefalos which is considered as one of the best theatres of Greece.
The Lighthouse of Saint Theodore is located a couple of kilometres from Argostoli and was built by the British Governor Napier; it is locally known as
"Fanari" (lighthouse) and consists in a small round building with white Doric columns. This beautiful lighthouse it is one of the trademarks of Kefalonia.
Sami is the closest beach resort to the capital, a few kilometres from it. It is very popular and offers wonderful beaches that have been awarded with the Blue Flag. In the area the visitor will find various accommodations, nice tavernas, lively bars and a wire range of shops.
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Fiskardo - 50km north of Argostoli
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Pastel painted houses throw open their traditional green shutters …revealing picture-postcard views. Gin palace yachts anchor-off in the bay, and little flotillas of sailing boats call in to the harbour for lunch at a waterside taverna. The village streets are stuffed with patisseries, bakeries, arty shops and stylish cafes. It's another perfect day for holidays in Fiskardo.
Backing a tree-lined bay with sumptuous seascapes across to Ithaca, this gorgeous place largely escaped the 1953 earthquake, so its stately Venetian houses stand intact, adorned with bougainvillea cascades. Boosted by this historic charm, Fiskardo holidays are that matchless blend of island simplicity and all mod cons. Shingle beaches, fringed with olive groves, flank Fiskardo bay – some within sauntering distance, others accessed only from the sea. So when you've done the obligatory souvenir shopping, you could hire a small motor boat to sunsoak on a secret cove. Then plan your after-dark entertainment – a bar, a smart restaurant, a nightclub … your efforts are always well rewarded on summer holidays to
Fiskardo.
"Candy-coloured, shuttered houses, glittering yachts and shimmering waters - bustling Fiskardo has to be the perfect Ionian village."
At first glance it’d be easy to mistake Fiskardo for an Italian Riviera village. Dusky pink, green-shuttered houses lining a smart waterside, brimming with canopied tavernas and classy shops. Gleaming yachts moored at the harbour. Seafood spaghetti on every blackboard menu.
Yet come closer, and you’ll realise this is pure, concentrated Greece, of the sort they make in the Ionian. Shouts of ‘kalimera’ rebound across the little alleyways. Friendly bakeries display trays of freshly-made
baklava. And as afternoon melts into evening, the sweet scent of spit-roasted lamb fills the air.
Basically, if you’re looking to stay in chocolate-box Greek village, Fiskardo’s pretty hard to beat. Here, on top of everything else, you’ll find all the classical ingredients – a tree-lined bay, old bougainvillea-trailed houses and irresistible tavernas.
Beach-wise, take a short walk around the headland to Fiskardo’s small, olive-fringed beach. This cute little spot’s a curve of shingle, boasting the same clear waters that are a trademark of Kefalonia. In high season, things get busy, as sailing flotillas make Fiskardo their base and day-trippers arrive in town. Yet, it’s still possible to find a quiet corner – comb the coastline and you’ll find a few peaceful coves, like the one at Foki, some only reachable by boat. And when you want to uncover more of Kefalonia, visit the dazzling white beach of Myrtos or the spectacular underground lake of Melissani, thought to be 30,000 years old.
When night falls, it’s easy to let Fiskardo’s swathe of tavernas and bars carry you long into the late hours with their chatter, laughter and live music. Start the night with an ouzo aperitif and go with the flow – it’s what Greece is all about.
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