Kefalonia - Ionian Islands - Greece

Kefalonia

Kefalonia , or Cephalonia , is the largest of the Ionians, the string of islands to the west of mainland Greece and the Peloponessos, favored by many for their proximity to Italy and the rest of Europe and the lack of Meltemi winds in the summer. Kefalonia is a green island, not as wet as Corfu to the north but rich in vegetation and in the spring the hills and fields are alive in a variety of wildflowers.

Like Zakynthos to the south, Kefalonia is a nesting ground for the loggerhead turtles which lay their eggs on the southern beaches in June, and the Mediterranean Monk Seal, the rarest of seals and one of the six most endangered mammals in the world. The island has 27,000 inhabitants, some who are fishermen, some who are farmers and an increasing number who are now in the tourism trade or will be soon. The main influences of Kefalonia, like the rest of the Ionian islands is Italian since the Venetians controlled it for almost 300 years

These influences can be found in the cuisine, architecture, art, literature and music of the island and in fact the Kefalonian's were playing the mandolin at least two centuries before Corelli picked it up. The two main towns are Sami in the northwest part of the island close to the island of Ithaki, home of Odysseus and Argostoli in the long Gulf of Argostolis in the south. Because of the island's proximity to Italy it is flooded with Italian tourists in July and August.

Add to this a large number of package tourists and you will discover that it is nearly impossible to find a place to stay during those two months and the situation is not likely to improve if the release of the movie sends new hoards of visitors. But if you go there in the off-season you will be rewarded with one of the most beautiful and fascinating islands in Greece.