Kefalonia attractions include Monastery of Saint Gerasimos, Archaeological Museum of Kefalonia, Myrtos beach, Melissani cave, and a day trip to Ithaca.
Monastery of Saint Gerasimos, founded in the 16th century, is located near the village of Valsamatan, at the location, where Saint Gerasimos, patron saint of Kefalonia lived, performed miracles, and died (in 1579).
The monastery buildings, however, are from 1953, rebuilt after a devastating earthquake, and include two churches.
Newer of the churches has been done in magnificent Byzantine architectural style, while the older church, which was built next to the Patron Saint’s personally made cave, contains the holy remains of Gerasimos.
Kefalonia’s Archaeological Museum, meanwhile, located in the island’s capital, Argostoli, includes a collection of artifacts found in archaeological excavations in the region, with objects from prehistoric period up to ancient Roman period.
Significant individual pearls of the museum collection include of a sub-collection of Mycenaean culture (period from 1600-1100 BC) artifacts.
The current museum building, at G. Vergote, 28, Argostoli, was completed in 1960, replacing an earlier building that was destroyed in an earthquake.
Myrtos Beach is the most famous of the island’s numerous beaches, and listed among the five most beautiful beaches in various international comparisons.
The legendary natural beauty of the beach comes from its location, between two mountains, Agia Dynati and Kalon Oros, as well as from the water’s colors here, ranging from azure blue to dark blue, and from green to blue and turquoise, creating a nice contrast to the beach’s marble cobblestones.
There is one beach bar at Myrtos beach, serving drinks and snacks, and you can also rent sun chairs and umbrellas.
Of the Kefalonia attractions, Melissani cave, located about 5 km (3.1 miles) from Agia Efthymia, was considered, in Greek mythology, a cave of Nymphs.
Highlights at the cave include its azure-colored shallow lake, which has interesting shaped and colored stones on the bottom, with the canvas being at its best when you visit the place on a sunny day.
You can explore the cave and its lake with a gondola tour, which goes through the two main entrances to the cave…
…the first of which includes an opening within the caves roof section, and the latter having huge stalactites and stalagmites.
Finally, a day cruise to the island of Ithaca and its Ithakin village, whose port is one of the world’s largest natural harbors, is available from the village of Kefalonia, and its Sami port, using either either traditional ferries, or speedboats.
Ithaca is especially famous as the Ithaca of Homer’s “Odysseus’ epic…
…as the home of Odysseus, with his return to his home island being one of the key plot elements in the saga of “Odysseys“.
The cruises, which take less than an hour one way, are available from several shipping companies, including Strintzis Ferries (www.strintzisferries.gr).