Top Reasons to Visit Kefalonia

Visitors to Kefalonia, the largest of Greeceís Ionian Islands, will find a surprising number of things to do in this 781-square-kilometre holiday spot. A place of exceptional beauty, exploring the beaches, caves and mountains of Kefalonia is the activity that most draws tourists to the island, but Kefalonia has much more to offer. Whether itís horse riding through ancient vineyards near Kefalonia villas, or exploring the ruins of a Roman villa, a Kefalonia holiday has a variety of enjoyable activities to engage visitors to beautiful Kefalonia.

Archeological finds abound in Kefalonia, some dating back over 40,000 years. Artefacts from the Mycenaean era are on display at the Archaeological Museum located in the islandís capital, Argostoli. The nearby Historical and Folklore Museum of the Corgialenos Library is also worth a look, for its displays of cultural artefacts collected across the centuries, including clothing, tools and handicrafts.

A number of ruins are worth visiting as well, particularly the Roman grave complex in Fiscardo. Discovered in 2006, the site had lain undisturbed since the fourth century A.D. An assortment of ceremonial artefacts were found in a large vaulted tomb with stone coffins, including gold jewelry, masks and bronze coins.

A well-preserved Roman theatre was uncovered nearby. Kefalonia also boasts a Mycenaean tholos, a round, conical roofed tomb dated to 1300 B.C. The tholos is the largest found in north-western Greece and confirms that the island held an important role during the Mycenaean era.

Most visitors come to Kefalonia to enjoy the islandís spectacular beaches. The most popular beaches are Sami, Makris Gialos, Platis Gialos and Mirtos. Kefalonia’s azure blue water is stunning, but beaches can get crowded. South of Lixouri is the lovely beach of Xi, a sandy beach that gets much less traffic. Sea turtles can sometimes be spotted at shallow Kaminia Beach. The loggerhead turtle population is protected by the international Sea Turtle Protection Society.

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A Kefalonia holiday is not complete without a visit to the spectacular Melissani Cave, the mythological cave of the nymphs. The cave surrounds Melissani Lake, a shallow lake notable for its sky-blue water. Although the cave is surrounded by forest, it is easily accessible from the main road between Sami and Agia Efimia.

Visitors to the island typically stay at Kefalonia villas. There are few hotels on Kefalonia. The villas give visitors easy access to both sea sports and inland activities, which include horse riding visits to some of the islandís olive groves. Over one million olive trees cover almost 55 percent of the island. Whether scuba diving, snorkeling, hiking, boating, fishing or simply enjoying the sun and sea, a wide range of activities make Kefalonia a memorable holiday destination.