The largest island of Ionian Sea with magical caves, green slopes, clear blue waters and golden beaches, offers the visitor a variety of unique choices for rambles and excursions. The wonderful excursions to the island offer the visitors the opportunity to admire the wild beauty of the scenery, the traditional settlements and the eccentric creations of nature.  We advise you to relax and enjoy the unforgetable vacations.

Argostoli - Aninos - Sami - Agia Efimia

The Archaeological Museum is located in the city, with magnificent samples of Mycenean and post-Mycenean era. Ancient gold coins, swords, beads, stamps, sculptures and ceramics are some of the exibits in the museum Don't forget to see the tools of a Paleolithic man that were found in the island.

In the Folklore and Historical Museum, in the same area, the visitor has the opportunity to admire historical photographs, expensive traditional costumes, rare pieces of engraving art, silver sculptures, rare manuscripts and historic documents. A little way further from the Folklore Museum, stands the Korgialenio Library that was built in 1924 and it has 53.000 books. It also houses the Historical Archive with unique manuscripts of the period (1535 - 1900).

The unique and rare edition of Ionian Bibliography is the priceless intellectual lung of the island. It also houses the wonderful art collection of P. Charocopos and Vallianos. The Theatre Kefalos is situated near the city center. It is the center of artistic and intellectual pursuits.

Walking in Lithostroto (stone-paved road), which is one of the most touristicly commercial roads of the city, you come across many picturesque shops, restaurants and rooms to rent. Finally we reach the historic square of Kampanas, where, in 1797, the inhabitants of the island, after the arrival of the French, burned the "Libro d' oro", the Bible of the aristocrats. In the same area stands the church of Agios Spiridon, with the famous golden icon-screen, a unique example of wooden carving art.

Leaving the central road, following the direction to the left, we come across the seaside road with the picturesque market full of fruits and fishes. A few blocks down we come across the pedestrianized street with palm trees which is ideal for night walks. For swimming, you can visit the beach of EOT, Gradakia and Kamaroula.

It is a cyclic breach of 3 m depth, 12 m diameter and the bottom of the swallow-hole is covered of rocks with steep and smooth surfaces. The water of the sea pours into a canal of 1.5 m and then it is sucked up by the breaches and vanishes. Many researchers, over the years, have tried to determine where the water, which flows in the Katavothres, flows out. They used various methods like pouring oil and colouring substances in water, but they have seen no results. Finally, they were led to the conclusion that the water, after 15 days and a distance of 17klm northeast, ends up in the village of Karavomylos and in the springs of Fridi and Agia Efimia. In the same area stands the building of Thalassomilou with its canals.

Just 3 Km outside the city, we come across the cave of Agios Gerasimos and in the area Perata the Monastery of Agios Andrea of Milapidias dated in 13th century and operates as an ecclesiastic museum. 4 Km south of the city stands the beautiful beaches of Makri and Plati Gialo with organized facilities and clear and blue waters. In Plati Gialo there is the famous Tourkopodaros. It is a high rock above a wonderful sandy beach.

Continuing our trip, we pass Aspros Vrahos and the village of Minies while leaving, on the right, the airport of the city, we come across the village of Svoronata with its magical beaches, Ammes, Ag.Chelis and Avithos. Then follows the village of Domata with the church of Virgin Mary and the coffin of Patriarch Gregorius V, which was transferred from Bosporus to Odessa by Captain M. Sklavos. Then, we come across the model settlement in the village of Kourkoumelata and Metaxata, which is full of palms. Next to the latter village, stand the Mycenean graves of Mazarakaton.

Returning to the main road, we will come across the old capital of the island, Travliata and the Venetian Castle of Agios Georgios of the 13th century with the impressive walls. Inside the castle there are ruins from the catholic church of Agio Marko.

A little to the right, the road leads to the village of Lakithra, where Lord Byron was inspired and wrote "Don Juan". The view is amazing, green plain, the airport, the small island of Zeus and far away in the horizon, you can see the island of Zakynthos. Passing through the picturesque villages of Kompothekrata and Chelmata we return to Argostoli.

Leaving the bridge of Argostoli behind us, in the road of Argostoli - Sami, in a distance of 3 Km, we come across the village of Rozata and a little further down the Cyclopean walls, huge rocks which stand imposingly and leave the visitors struck dump. Walking towards the tableland of Omalon you'll find yourselves to a green location, especially in August, which is full of grapes, the famous robola grapes, from which they make the amber cefallonian wine.

Near the villages of Fragata and Balsamata, the road leads to the convent of Ag.Gerasimos. Don't forget to be present in the celebration, in honour of the Saint, on August 16th, with the participation of all the inhabitants of the island.

Returning to the main road and after 5 Km the road is leading to the mountain of Enos or according to Venetians, "Monte Nero" with the highest peak of Megas Soros (1.628 m.). It is the symbol of the island for the inhabitants representing their honesty and liberal feelings. The magical view and the scenery full of pine trees, a famous variety known as "Abies Cefalonica", rosy flowers and aromatic plants. In this area, there was the famous ancient sanctuary of Eneas Zeus. Also in this area, lives a special breed of horses that graze in herds and are very famous since the ancient times for their strength and stamina.

In a distance of 10 Km is stands the cave of Drogorati with stalactites and stalagmites. The atmosphere is magical when the sunlight is coming through the dome and reflects on the stalagmites and stalactites. It is a unique cave for concerts with marvelous acoustic and a big hall, a unique geologic phenomenon. Then, we arrive to the second port of the island, Sami, with the picturesque beach, the beautiful breakwater that is the touristic center of the island. From here you can go to Italy. Except for the beautiful location, the picturesque narrow streets and the traditional buildings, the sightseeings that are included in Sami stand out.

The bay of Sami, in the naval battle of Nafpaktos, in 1571, was called "Valle d' Alessandria"
A unique sightseeing on the north of Sami is the ancient homonymous town, in which Homer is refered to in "Odyssey", with "Kiatis" acropolis and part of the walls of the Hellenistic period to be rescued in the area of Agion Fanenton. Ruins from the ancient theatre, graves and the bath of the Roman period with mosaic floors of geometric decoration are located in the same area.

The city of Sami is famous for the resistance of its inhabitants against the Roman conquerors in 189 BC. On the hill of Agilion, on the road to the picturesque sandy beach of Antisamo, stands the Monastery of Panagia of Agrilion of 15th century.

In the settlement of Poulata we come across the church of Agios Spiridon, a unique example of ecclesiastical architecture of Byzantine baroque. Near there, stands the non visitable and unexplored cave of Aggalaki, with underground lake of 3 sq. meters in extent, and 14 smaller caves around it. In the north, stands the cave of Agion Theodoron, in the west stands the cave of Agia Eleousa and in the village Nea Vlachata stands the cave of Zervatis and Hiridoni.

In the same area, there is Karavomilos, an ideal lake surrounded by green and water that comes from Katavothres. Near Karavomilos, ther is the lake Melissani, which you can visit only by boat to admire the unique transparent blue and the emerald green of its waters. In the small island of the lake, an ancient sanctuary of God Pana was found; it is a figurine made from potter's clay. Other findings are, the figure of a woman, a discus with a presentation of a god and other tools that you can see in the Archaeological Museum to Argostoli.

In the road that leads to Agia Efimia there are many marvelous picturesque small ports, ideal for swimming, and on the left appears the mountain row of Ag. Dinatis with the highest peak of 1,131 m. In a distance of 6 Km from the lake stands the large village on the coastline and the beautiful port of Agia Efimia. It is one of the most picturesque fishing-villages in the west of Sami's bay, with organized beaches, golden sand, traditional settlements and touristic activity.  It is connected by coastal lines with Astako of Aitoloakarnania and Piso Aeto in the island of Ithaka. It is the ideal place to enjoy your vacations combining the picturesque and serene landscape with the busy life of a resort centre.

Agia Efimia along with the picturesque Makriotica, Potamianata, Divarata, Drakopoulata and Ferentinata belongs in the area of Pylarou, in which Agia Efimia is the centre. To the north, in the foothills of Agia Dinati, stands the Monastery of Theotokos Thematon of 16th century. Don't forget to be present in the festival of Sotira on August 6th and in the large festival of the Monastery of Anatolikou, on August 15th.

You can swim in the beach of the area, which reaches the village of Fiskardo, in Mikres Agalies north from the road to Sami, and in a distance of 3 Km, in the most magical beach of Ionian Sea, Myrto.

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