Kefalonia

Kefalonia from satellite

Kefalonia (and Kephalonia or Cephalonia) is a Greek island in the Ionian Sea. It is the largest of the Ionian islands and the sixth largest Greek island after Crete, Euboea, Lesbos, Rhodes and Chios. Its area is 781 square metres^[1] and its population is 36,404 according to a 2001 Greek census.

Geography

Kefalonia is home to the highest mountain in the Ionian islands. The mountain is named Ainos and its altitude is 1, 628 metres. The biggest town on the island is Argostoli which is the capital of the Kefalonia prefecture. The second biggest town is Lixouri which is located opposite Argostoli. Beside Kefalonia is the island Ithaca, the place of birth of ancient hero Odysseus. Some archaeologists believe that Kefalonia is the place of birth of Odysseus.

Sites

Kefalonia has many beautiful beaches and it is one of the most popular tourist destinations. The most popular beach on the island is Myrtos which is located in the north-west of the island.^[2] Kefalonia hosts a truly beautiful natural environment with many forests mainly on Ainos mountain. Also in Kefalonia there is a famous cave-lake which is named Melissani and is located in the east of the island ^[3]

Kefalonia Media

Excavations from Melissani in the Archaeological Museum of Argostoli
Evangelistria Church, St. George's castle.
The sea mills at the bay of Argostoli (1849) were a natural curiosity in the 19th century. Mount Ainos in the background.
The central square of Lixouri, 1910.
Royal Air Force Operations in Malta, Gibraltar and the Mediterranean, 1940-1945.*Low-level oblique aerial taken from a Bristol Beaufighter as it attacked a small cargo vessel and a naval patrol boat moored in the harbour at Fiskardho on the island of Cephalonia, Greece.
The Italian President Giorgio Napolitano in Cephalonia during remembrance ceremonies in honour of the soldiers of the Massacre of the Acqui Division.
Some ruins of the earthquake are still visible.
Promenade of Argostoli
Coins from Pale/Pali, the ancient town north of Lixouri.
Flowering poppies (Papaver sp.) in a meadow on Kefalonia island, Greece.