Kefalonia Cyclopean Walls of Ancient Krani

Location: Argostoli

The Ancient Cyclopean Walls of Kefalonia Greece, Ionian: In Kefalonia, there is a great site for the visitors of the island. It is the Cyclopean Walls, located near the former Doric temple of Demeter and some compare it to the Great Wall of China. They are called Cyclopean Walls because people indeed thought they were built by the one-eyed giants, the Cyclops.

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These Cyclopean walls are unfortunately in poor shape. Some of the walls have been destroyed and some others have been damaged by the elements. Acid rain had a detrimental effect on this wall over the years but many of them are still standing in good condition. Many people wonder how this wall can be so perfectly aligned. They were most likely built in 7th century BC. and claimed to be some of the best examples of engineering of walls coming from that time.

The way to go to the walls is pretty simple. They are near the main road that goes from Argostoli to Sami. When you get close to a village called Razata, you will see a sign that says, Cylopean Walls. This sign points you to an asphalt road that eventually becomes a dirt road. There it happens to be a large open area to park your vehicle. You will have to walk the last remaining meters to these walls. When you visit, you'd better wear walking boots, strong sneakers or trainers as well as long pants or trousers to protect your legs from the prickly shrubs.

These walls were meant to protect the ancient town of Krani. You can find remains of buildings from this town near the walls. The town used to be at the end of the Koutavos Bay and overlooked the whole region. The Krania plain was the main location of this city.

Krani was one of the cities of Kefalonia that belonged to a kingdom called Ancient Sami. This kingdom dominated Kelafonia for over three thousand years. The famous archeologist N. Kyparissis believes that the history of Kefalonia is depicted in these walls. You can glimpse the ancient times right up to the years when the Roman Empire ruled this island. This time of period would be about three thousand years. The golden age of this island was during the Mycenean period.

People were able to communicate with the islands of Ithaca, Lefkada and the Cycladic group of islands. All this communication ended when the island was destroyed by the volcanic eruption of Santorini. On a hill called Riza near these walls, there are many chamber tombs that existed before the Mycenaean period. Unfortunately, these tombs have been plundered and damaged. This hill was used as a necropolis for the ancient city of Krani. These cyclopean walls bear testimony to the fact that there was indeed ancient inhabitation on this island.

These walls are over 2 kilometers long and can be found just outside Argostoli. While walking along these walls, you can see examples of the wildlife of the island. Despite their ruined state, the Cyclopean Walls on Kefalonia are a good example of ancient Greek engineering.

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How to get there

The Cyclopean Walls of Ancient Krani is located in Argostoli village, just a 15-minute drive away from the central bus station.

Private transfers: We recommend using an online pre-booked Kefalonia transfer service, which provides transfer by taxi, minibus or private VIP car and arranging a pickup directly from the airport, port or your hotel. Alternatively, there’s the option of arranging a pickup by a local driver directly at the following numbers: 0030 694 5306 145, 0030 694 5118 866, 0030 697 7193 569 or book your taxi online.

Car rental: Τhere’s the option of renting a car in Kefalonia with as little as 11 euros per day and pick it up directly from the airport, port or your hotel. Using a car rental allows visitors to discover the Cyclopean Walls of Ancient Krani and many other places of interest in Kefalonia at their own pace.

By Public transfers: The central bus station of the island is located at Argostoli. There are bus connections between this bus station and the most areas of the island. Consider that time schedules might change according to the season. Check the official timetables here.
Tip: Since buses don’t always stop in every scheduled stop of their itinerary, our advice to visitors is to inform the driver about their final destination, so that he makes a stop there.

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