Quick Links

Ionian	Kefalonia	History	Sights	Culture
Beaches	Stay	Visit	General Information

Κεφαλλονιά The largest of the Ionian islands with an area of 737 square kilometres and a varied and rich distribution of coastline it offers its visitors a wide range of choices for holiday-making. Kefalonia's history is similar to the rest of the Ionian isles. Part of Athenean alliance first appears in documented history when its city states send soldiers to assist the Greeks in the battle of Plataies. In 191BC it falls under Roman and later, when the Empire is divided, it becomes part of the Eastern Empire - the Byzantine Empire. Kefalonia falls under Western rule in 1185 when Roger II, king of Sicily, seizes Kefalonia and Ithaca. This begins a long Frankish rule of the island that lasts until 1797. The island followed the fate of the rest of the Ionian falling eventually under Venetian rule after a series of Frankish crusaders (the Orsinis, the Adeganis and the Tokis) and then the Turks briefly held the island. In 1797, the French took briefly took control firmly planting the ideas of the French revolution (egalite, liberte, fraternite) on the islands. The British conquered the island on 1809 and held on to it until 1864 when it was united with mainland Greece.

The devastating earthquakes of 1953, which levelled the island, represent a watershed in the history of Kefalonia and caused its inhabitants, driven by necessity, to make a new beginning. Unlike the other Ionian islands Kefalonia has four thriving towns - Argostoli, Lixouri, Sami and Fiskardo. Of these Argostoli is the largest and Kefalonia's capital. On the city section we will cover all four cities - each with its own Sights section.