Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
package travellers will find themselves staying in
Lássi
, a short bus ride or half-hour
walk from town. The only other reason you might come to this corner of the island is
for the summer ferry link with Zákynthos from
Pessádha
(see.p.736).
Áyios Yeóryios
The best inland excursion from Argostóli is to
ÁYIOS YEÓRYIOS
, the medieval Venetian
capital of the island, 7km southeast of Argostóli but not connected by public transport.
The old town here supported a population of fifteen thousand until its destruction by
an earthquake in the seventeenth century: substantial ruins of its
castle
(Tues-Sun
8.30am-3pm; free) can be visited on the hill above the modern village of Peratáta, a
steep 1km walk below on the main southeast bus routes.
Mount Énos and around
At 15km from a point halfway along the Argostóli-Sámi road,
Mount Énos
isn't really a
walking option but roads nearly reach the official 1632m summit. The mountain has
been declared a national park, to protect the
Abies cephalonica
firs named after the
island, which clothe the slopes. There are absolutely no facilities on or up to the
mountain but the views from the highest point in the Ionian islands out over
Kefaloniá's neighbours and the mainland are wonderful. Out of summer, watch the
weather, which can deteriorate with terrifying speed.
11
Áyios Yerásimos monastery and around
Áyios Yerásimos monastery
Daily 9am-1pm & 4-8pm
Robola winery
April-Oct daily 7am-8.30pm, Nov-March Mon-Fri
7am-3pm •
W
robola.gr
Not far west of the mountain turning, taking a detour towards Frangáta is doubly
rewarded, firstly by the huge and lively
Áyios Yerásimos monastery
, which hosts two of
the island's most important festivals (Aug 15 and Oct 20); the most interesting feature
is the double cave beneath the back of the sanctuary, where the eponymous saint
meditated for lengthy periods. Right behind the monastery, the
Robola winery
offers a
free self-guided tour and generous wine tasting.
Lixoúri and its peninsula
Ferries run to Lixoúri from Argostóli till well after midnight (summer Mon-Sat every 30min, Sun hourly; winter hourly; 20min)
Across the water from Argostóli, the town of
LIXOÚRI
was flattened by successive
earthquakes and hasn't risen much above two storeys since. It's a little drab but has
good restaurants, quiet hotels and is favoured by those who want to explore the eerie
quake-scapes left in the south and the barren north of the peninsula.
Beaches around Lixoúri
Xi and Mégas Lákkos are served by bus from Lixoúri
Lixoúri's nearest beach, a 2km walk south, is
Lépedha
, composed of rich-red sand and
backed by low cliffs, as are
Xi
and
Mégas Lákkos
(the name means “big hole”) beaches,
both of which have good facilities. Around 4km southwest lies the quieter beach at
Kounópetra
, site of a curious rock formation. Until the 1953 earthquake, this “rocking
stone” (as the name signifies in Greek) had a strange rhythmic movement that could be
measured by placing a knife into a gap between the rock and its base. However, after
the quake the rock became motionless. Some 2km further west, in an area known as
Vátsa, the last beach of any size on the southern tip of the peninsula is sandy
Áyios
Nikólaos
, a very quiet and scenic strand.
