Kefalonia Argostoli

General information

If you want to experience the full range of what Kefalonia has to offer, you need to visit the town of Argostoli. The scenery is beautiful and full of historical and cultural landmarks.
The town has been the capital of the island since 1757.
It is a beautiful seaside city, surrounded by small, luscious hills and lies on the west side of Kefalonia, with approximately 10.000 residents.
It's a commercial and administrative center and Kefalonia's biggest shipping port.
The biggest villages in the area are Razata, Farsa, Prokopata, Kompothekrata and the Lassi Resort.
At the edge of the bay, lies the Koutavos Lagoon, surrounded by deep-green vegetation, with very high eucalyptus trees.

 

More info about Argostoli

History

Historically, the Venetians occupied Kefalonia for many centuries (Enetocracy), like the rest of the Eptanisa Islands (the administrative region Kefalonia belongs to).
The Eptanisa Islands were later occupied by the French and the British.
All these foreign cultures and influences impacted the Kefalonians heavily in all aspects of their lives.
The town was almost entirely destroyed by the earthquakes of 1953, and the British helped rebuild much of its infrastructure.
Before the earthquake, many beautiful mansions decorated the city. They were indicative of Venetian Architecture, with Renaissance, Rococo, and Baroque elements.
There are many buildings and ruins, rich in history and cultural significance. From the 6th-century Cyclopean Walls of Ancient Krani to the renovated buildings after the earthquake of 1953, you can watch history unfold right in front of your eyes.

Some sights in the area

De Bosset Bridge or "Devosetos Bridge", is around 700 meters long, and is the longest stone bridge over the sea in the world! It is a pedestrian bridge that connects Argostoli to the opposite side of Argostoli Bay. There lies Drepano, a village where you can find the Municipal and the English Cemetery.
Additionally, the bridge separates the Koutavos Lagoon from the bay. It was built in 1813, by the Swiss engineer and English governor of Kefalonia at the time, Charles de Bosset, who supervised a lot of infrastructure projects on the island.
After the earthquakes of 1953, it suffered many damages which are still visible today.
Close to it, there is a small artificial island, with the monument of Obelisk in the middle. It has the shape of a four-sided pyramid, and if you look closer, you can see an inscription placed at the front, in honor of its creators.

• Another landmark you can't miss, both figuratively and literally, is the renowned Cobble Street.
The Kampana (Bell) square is the place from where Lithostroto starts, and a place worth visiting as well.

• The Lighthouse of Saint Theodoroi (or Fanari), is a unique building, 3 km outside of Argostoli. It is built on an artificial peninsula, and besides the value of the building itself, the view is great from there. And, of course, an ideal spot for taking photographs. It has a circular form, extending 8 meters in height, with twenty white pillars supporting it, in the fashion of a doric architectural rhythm.
It was built in 1928, during the rule of the British administrator, Charles Napier. It was destroyed by the earthquake, but it was rebuilt in 1964, according to its original design.
A very interesting piece of information is the reasoning behind the formulation of its shape. In fear of the frequent earthquakes, the British built an interior circular staircase, to support it, thus granting it a unique shape and form. It is close to the Katavothres and the wider Lassi area.

Korgialeneios Library and the Folklore Museum housed within it are places of high intellectual and educational interest.

• The Kefalos Theater is the Municipal Theater of Kefalonia and one of international prestige and recognition. It lies on Georgiou Vergoti Street and is one of the largest and oldest theaters in Greece.
It is at the central square of Vallianos, at the end of Cobble Street. It opened in 1858, under British rule and the first performance it hosted was La Traviata by Verdi and Mari di Rohan by Donizetti, in November of 1858. It has an amphitheater of 450 seats, making it the biggest theater in all of Kefalonia. Since 1994, when it was rebuilt, it has hosted many theater performances, dancing shows, scientific conferences, and art exhibitions. Furthermore, it has hosted shows of the State Orchestra, the Lyrical Scene, international theater productions, and concerts of very famous musicians.

• What sets Kefalonia apart in terms of geological phenomena, is definitely the one of Katavothres. You can reach it pretty easily, since it is 3 km away from Argostoli, along Fanari Road.
What is the phenomenon of Katavothres? It's the disappearance of seawater in the cracks of the soil! It then runs through the Katavothres, a fact that has baffled scientists for years. Eventually, the explanation is that the Katavothres are made of limestone, and the water of the rain melts a chemical element of it. Then, the cracks dilate, forming underground caves, tunnels, and holes. The Katavothres run through the entire southern part of the island, ending in the Melissani Cave.

• 5 km from Argostoli, lie the ancient Cyclopean Walls of Razata. They are walls of massive stones, dating back to the 7th or 6th century BC, and functioned as a formidable fortification of the city. Razata was the main area of the city in the Mycenaean era. The southern side of the hill (Riza) was the Necropolis of Kranis, 1 of the 4 city-states of Kefalonia, called Kefalianiki Tetrapolis. There are also the Doric Temple Ruins of Demeter.

At the end of your walk on the beautiful Argostoli coastline, there is the statue of Nikos Kavvadias, a naval who is one of the most beloved Greek poets.

Where to swim?

Very close to Argostoli, at a 2kms distance, there is the Lassi Holiday Resort, with its 2 beautiful beaches of Platis Gialos and Makris Gialos. Both beaches have crystal clear water to enjoy your swimming and grained sand for endless sunbathing. The resort provides places to eat, drink and shop. There are also beach bars, restaurants, a lifeguard, and water sports. 

Next to Makris and Platis Gialos lies the more family-friendly beach of Gradakia.

Where to eat?

Kefalonia is famous for its local cuisine, which includes pies, goat meat, and seafood. There are many restaurants in the town where you can taste local delicacies.
If you want a cozy, friendly choice for your meal, with a great view of the sea, you can find the Ampelaki restaurant, at the end of the Argostoli harbor. The staff is very efficient, the quality of food is great, and it also provides facilities for people with disabilities.

Another quality choice for dishes of the local cuisine is the Premier restaurant, at the Argostoli harbor. The great thing about its ingredients is that all vegetables are produced on Premier's farm, by the organic farming method. The bread is also produced in its workshop and is baked daily.

A family restaurant (taverna) that has a great view of the sea and the mountains, is Kiani Akti. Its menu includes many traditional dishes, the most renowned being the delicious Kefalonian meat pie.

Hotels in Argostoli

We have made a selection of the best hotels in Argostoli.

Kefalonia Grand

4 stars

Located in Argostoli and right by the sea, Kefalonia Grand is a luxurious four-star hotel that provides guests with all the needed amenities and services for the utmost pleasurable vacation.

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Alley Boutique & Spa

4 stars

Conveniently located in Argostoli at a spot that guarantees a wonderful view of the sea, Alley Boutique Hotel and Spa offers luxurious rooms with an elegant style. This small boutique hotel provides accommodation facilities with a unique kind of decoration, as well as breakfast facilities.

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Limanaki

3 stars

Limanaki Hotel is situated in Lassi, only 2 km from Argostoli. The accommodation boasts air-conditioned rooms that feature spacious balcony, bathtub or shower, mini bar, satellite TV, direct phone, safe box and wifi. A fresh-water swimming pool with hydro-massage, TV lounge, garden, children’s ...

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Things to See & Do in Argostoli

Check out the things to see & do in Argostoli during your stay and explore what the area has to offer.

Argostoli Map

Explore our interactive map of Argostoli.

Reviews

4/5.0
2 Reviews
  • John Marris 06 Jul 2022
    Wonderful piece of engineering
    This is a wonderful piece of engineering by the British. It needs a plaque erected to explain to tourists the history of the bridge.

    I found the history, which is worth reading from the internet.
  • vasilikiang 13 Oct 2011
    Romantic bar works there
    This is a very nice spot about 2 km from Argostoli. Actually a nice cafeteria has been built around Katavothres that works as a romantic bar at nights. The cafe opens after 7 in the evening, which is a shame because it would also be a nice place for day coffee. There you can actually see the sea water getting into the ground, passing a wooden mill and disappearing under some rocks. This water crosses the island from underground and after 30 km it reached Melissani Lake and then pours into the sea in Karavomylos, at a place with a same mill.

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