The largest and one of the most beautiful Ionian islands, Kefalonia is filled with dramatic scenery and Greek charms. Its famous for its delicious food, dazzling beaches and dramatic landscapes that include emerald mountains, while hosting a national park centered around olive, cypress and pine-covered Mount Ainos, a place where wild horses and deer roam. There are also impressive caves, including one that has an underground lake, along with a wide variety of outdoor adventures available.
One of the finest museums in Greece, this institution showcases a vast collection that provides a comprehensive look at life on Kefalonia in historic times. Visitors can view traditional local costumes, photos of the island before the earthquakes, sacred relics, old lace and embroideries, historic furniture and household items like utensils and tools, maps and paintings, and more.
Saint Gerasimos is Kefalonia’s patron saint. In the 1500s, he lived here, founding the monastery that was constructed on the site of a previous monastery that had been dedicated to the Virgin Mary. His body was mummified and kept inside a glass case in this pink building, displayed occasionally at services. The courtyard holds a well and a plane tree that’s said to have been planted the saint himself. On his feast days of August 16 and October 20, his sarcophagus is carried over the ill to help heal them.
Mount Aenos is the tallest mountain on the island at over 5,341 feet, covered with Greek fir and black pines, and inhabited by semi-wild ponies. It sits inside a national park and offers a variety of trails, including the popular four-mile Digaleto-Megas Soros trail. It begins just outside the village of Digaleto and brings hikers to the summit where there is a long ridge of bare rock providing a stunning view of the Ionians islands and the Peloponnese peninsula.
There are many fabulous beaches on Kefalonia, but Myrtos Beach is often ranked as the very best in the country. Nestled between two mountains at the north end of the island, it may look familiar as it’s often photographed. Its white sands are framed by water that glows in the ever-present sunshine due to marble sediment, creating mesmerizing shades of blue. Viewing it for the first time a dramatic experience as it comes into sight at the end of a steep, winding road.
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