Kefalonia, made famous as the setting for Captain Corelli’s Mandolin, is one of the most beautiful villa holiday settings in the Ionian Sea. With its supremely panoramic views from the towering Mount Énos, Kefalonia reveals a glimpse of paradise at every turn. From churches and monasteries perched precariously on cliff tops to secluded sandy coves and timeless, untouched villages - you’ll find an abundance of spectacular scenery, traditional tavernas, perfumed pine forests, stunning white beaches and warm, friendly Greek Island hospitality. Native to Kefalonia are some of the best beaches in the Greek islands, with waters considered amongst the cleanest in the world. Explore the picturesque golden sandy shores and vertical cliffs in the north of the island on your villa holiday. Secluded sandy coves offer beautiful views over small bays to the west, while many of Kefalonia’s Blue Flag beaches offer clean, well-organised facilities ideal for a family holiday. Drive around the coast, especially the east, and stumble across small beaches scattered amongst rocks and trees, under the main coastal road.
Much of the busy nightlife in Kefalonia is concentrated in the main holiday town of Argostoli.
The central square is lined with many restaurants, cafés and bars, and on a hot, balmy summer night local people take their traditional evening walk here. Kefalonia’s larger harbour side resorts also offer bustling entertainment, including traditional dancing and live Greek music – a good way to observe the Kefalonia way of life on your villa holiday. In the smaller, more rural villages you’ll find local tavernas and nightspots offering a quieter, relaxing and romantic evening retreat.
Acres of inland forest-covered mountains provide captivating views of Kefalonia and its stunning scenery – neighbouring Greek Island Zakynthos can even be spotted on a clear blue-sky day. Spend the day visiting tiny isolated beaches and coves all along Kefalonia’s pretty coastline on a boat trip; observe the sea-turtles nesting on the beach, and visit natural wonders like sinkholes that make sea water disappear then reappear across Kefalonia island. Horseback riding is found at several holiday resorts, as well as watersports facilities, cycle hire and bird watching hotspots.
Archaeological finds suggest that humans lived in Kefalonia since Neolithic times 7,000 years ago. For the explorer, many ancient sites of unrivalled beauty still reside here. These range from Venetian fortresses and monasteries, Byzantine churches and underground Mycenaean tombs dating back to 1200 BC, to the remains of a Roman villa and its fascinating mosaics from the second century AD. More recently, visitors flock to this Greek Island for its connection to Captain Corelli's Mandolin – the book, and subsequent film, inspired by World War.