Page 85 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Greek Islands

Bari, Lefkáda Lefkáda
Brindisi
2 Ionian Fríkes Itháki
Kástro and the Sea Fiskárdo Kióni
Central Plain Maganos Pólis Stavrós
Kefaloniá Bay Léfki
⌂ 8 km (5 miles) SE of Mesovounia Gidaki
Argostóli Ágios Beach
Ioannis
Ássos
Capital of Kefaloniá until 1757, Karyá Vathý
the whitewashed village of Ágios Mýrtos Bay Pissaetós
Kástro flourishes outside the Spyrídon Divarata Perahóri
ruins of the Byzantine fortress Atheras Zóla Filiatró
of Ágios Geórgios. The fortress Agonas Agia Efthymía
was reno vated in 1504 by the Antísamos
Venetians, but was severely Kardakáta Beach
damaged in the huge 1953 Ágios Melissáni Astakós
Cave
earthquake. The overgrown Dimítrios Fársa Sámi
interior (rarely open) is a haven Peninsula Dilináta Drongaráti Cave
Pallikí
for swallowtail butterflies. Lixouri Zervati
Set in impressive grounds, Soullari Argostóli Ágios
Ágios Yerásimos monastery Vouni Razata Valasmata Nikólaos Kyllíni
is named in honour of the Lássi Kástro and the Póros
Xi
island’s patron saint. The Beach Makrýs Gialos Travliata Central Plain
Platýs Gialos
brave can descend into the Lakithra Vlaháta Mount Énos
twin cave beneath the main International Airport Lourdáta
Kefalloniá
chapel and climb through a Pessáda Pástra
gap in the rock to the space Markópoulo
where the saint meditated. 0 kilometres 10 N Skála
0 miles 10 Zákynthos
3
Mount Énos summit of Mount Énos. Wild
horses live in Mount Énos 5
⌂ 27 km (17 miles) NW Fiskárdo and Ássos
of Argostóli National Park, and the slopes
of the mountain are covered ⌂ 45 km (28 miles) NW of
There was once a sanctuary with the native fir tree, Abies Argostóli
to the local cult of Zeus at the cephalonica. There is a rough
track up to the summit, which Popular Fiskárdo is Kefaloniá’s
is 1,630 m (5,350 ft) high. prettiest village, untouched
by the 1953 earthquake. It has
cheerfully painted Venetian
4 houses from the 18th century,
which cluster by the harbour, a
Sámi popular berth for yachts.
Ássos is an unspoiled pastel-
⌂ 23 km (14 miles) NE
of Argostóli coloured village on Kefaloniá’s
west coast. Mýrtos Bay, south
A town on the east coast, Sámi of town, has a stunning and
has ferry services to Itháki and dramatic beach.
the Peloponnese. Drongaráti
Cave, 3 km (2 miles) south-
west, is the size of a large INSIDER TIP
concert hall and is sometimes Turtle Spotting
used as one due to its fine If you spend some time
acoustics. The subterranean lingering by the water
Melissáni Cave-Lake, 2 km at the southern end of
(1 mile) to the north, was a Argostóli’s seafront, you
sanc tuary of Pan, the Greek will have a good chance
god of herds and shepherds, of spotting a loggerhead
in Mycenaean times. Part of its turtle coming up to feed
Looking down on the limestone ceiling has collapsed, on the seaweed just
pretty houses lining creating a haunting place with below the surface.
the azure sea at Ássos deep blue water.
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