Page 31 - (DK Eyewitness) Top 10 Travel Guide - Corfu & the Ionian Islands

Mýrtou Bay Area, Kefalloniá ❮❮ 29

CAPTAIN CORELLI’S
MANDOLIN
Mýrtou Bay famously
featured in the 2001 film
Captain Corelli’s Mandolin,
which was adapted from
British novelist Louis de
White Pebble Beach
6 Bernières’ 1994 novel of
the same name. It tells
The dazzling white beach (above) has been
formed over millennia by the erosion of the cliffs of the eviction of the
Italians by the Germans
enclosing the bay. The rock debris was depo sited on in World War II (see p39).
the beach and worn down by the sea to form pebbles. Although both film and
book boosted tourism
in the bay, it retains its
idyllic nature and is
pro tected from
over-development.
3 8 5
Asos
0
6
7 Divarata
Makryotika
Agonas
Agia Effimia
Pétrikáta
Karavomylos
9
Dilináta
Mýrtou Bay Area, Kefalloniá
Diving and
Mount Kalon
NEED TO KNOW 8 0
Snorkelling
Oros
MAP H4 • Near Divarata Along with Agia Dynati, Coves
and Sinióri, Kefalloniá Kalon Oros forms a dra- With its tiny coves, caves
matic back drop to the bay. and rocks (below), Mýrtou
• The bay is protected
from development. It has At around 900 m (3,000 ft), Bay is a paradise for
few facilities, other than it offers superb views. snor kellers and divers.
basic refreshments. Look out for nearby pretty Take care, however, as
• The car park closest to villages where local crafts currents are strong and
and traditions still thrive.
the seabed drops sharply.
the beach fills up quickly
in summer so arrive Mount Agia
early to secure a space. 9
Dynati
According to Greek lore,
Sheer Cliffs
7 Agia Dynati was the rock
that Titan leader, Cronus,
The soaring cliffs
of Mýrtou Bay are a dropped to earth. After
photogenic highlight of Lefkáda’s Mount Elati
the area. Made up of and Kefalloniá’s Mount
calcite-rich limestone, Aino, Agia Dynati, at
the white cliffs contrast 1,100 m (4,000 ft), is the
sharply with the deep third-highest mountain
blue colour of the sea. in the Ionian Islands.
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