I don’t know what it is, but you know you’re in Kefalonia Greece from the aroma that assails you as soon as you step off the plane, it’s a wonderful deeply herbal smell!
One of the largest of the Ionian islands and probably one of the most unspoilt, Kefalonia is situated off the west coast of Greece. The island seems to have escaped mass tourism but has gained popularity in recent years following its use as the location for Louis de Bernières “Captain Corelli’s Mandolin” which was filmed there.
The island is developed mainly around the coastal edges with pretty fishing villages and breathtakingly beautiful beaches and although I have stayed in the south, which is more touristic with wide sandy beaches, my personal favourite part of the island is to the north and east.
Aghia Efimia is a pretty fishing village and makes a good base for exploring the whole island. The small beaches around the village are pebbly but the sea is crystal clear making it ideal for snorkeling. There are plenty of bars and tavernas overlooking the small port but a must visit restaurant is the taverna overlooking Paradise Beach Paradise Beach Taverna where we ate nearly every night when we honeymooned here in 2000, sharing the restaurant with the cast and crew of “Captain Corelli’s Mandolin”! You can choose your own freshly caught fish and the chocolate pudding is definitely worth a try!
From the port here you can also catch a ferry and explore the nearby island of Ithaca, boats run daily. Visit Myrtos Beach with its stunning white sand and aquamarine sea and the subterranean lake at Melisani, named after the nymph Melissanthi who committed suicide because her love of the God Pan was not reciprocated. The pretty village of Assos, dominated by the ruins of a 16th century Venetian castle, is also worth a visit.
The fishing village of Fiskardo on the northern tip of the island with it’s Venetian architecture, is one of the few remaining towns that was unaffected by earthquakes which destroyed so much on the island, there are plenty of interesting shops and tavernas overlooking the water, a popular port of call with the rich and famous, it’s also a great place to people watch!
We are frequent visitors to Kefalonia after our first visit and have returned with our family many times. it is definitely one of my top holiday spots – you can expect traditional Greek hospitality and visitors are welcomed back as friends!
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