Page 87 - (DK Eyewitness) Top 10 Travel Guide - Corfu & the Ionian Islands

Kefalloniá and Ithaki ❮❮ 85

Antísamos Beach near the port of Sámi, Kefalloniá
Sámi, Kefalloniá
1 seen by visitors on their way to the
MAP H5 • East coast, Kefalloniá
Royal Balcony, a natural rock platform,
Sámi lies northeast of the capital, and the Chamber of Exaltation, now
Argostóli, on the island’s east coast an operatic concert venue. Other caves
and is Kefalloniá’s main port. This include Angalaki, the largest in the
attractive town has traditional-style area, and Melissáni, where artifacts
buildings overlooking the bay, which dating from the 4th century BC have
bustles with boats and ferries. It has been discovered (see pp30–31).
a good choice of restaurants and bars,
and popular sights include the pebbly
beach of Antísamos (see p90), nearby
Karavomylos and many local caves.
Asos and Mýrtou Bay,
2
Kefalloniá
An unspoiled village that lies just north
of Mýrtou Bay, Asos can be reached
by a sharply descending road from a
stone terrace to the sea. It sits in a
small harbour and boasts charming
traditional architecture. A small
isth mus reaches out from its harbour-
side to the remains of a Venetian castle Lake in Melissáni cave, Kefalloniá
that protected the village in ancient
Vathý, Ithaki
times. Minutes away is the stunning 4
Mýrtou Bay with its famous turquoise MAP J4
sea, horseshoe-shaped white beach The capital and port of Ithaki, Vathý
and cliff backdrop. It is widely consid- is believed to have been built on the
ered to be one of the most beautiful ancient Homeric har bour of Phorkys.
bays in the world (see pp28–9). Records suggest it was an important
trading port in medieval times. In the
Caves of Sámi,
3 17th cen tury, the town’s archi tecture
Kefalloniá
was strongly influenced by the
Drogkaráti cave is a wonder of nature. Heptanesian art move ment of the day.
Believed to be over a million years old, Although severely damaged in the
this huge space was discovered more 1953 earthquake, Vathý was rebuilt,
than 300 years ago when an earth- and its white washed houses hint at
quake revealed its entrance. Incredible its former glory. Some original
sta lactites and stalagmites can be houses can still be seen.

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