Kefalonia

From CruisersWiki

(Difference between revisions)
Jump to: navigation, search
m
Line 18: Line 18:
[[Image:Fiskardo.jpeg|thumb|345px|right|Fiskardo is one of the island's most popular harbours<br />''Click for larger view]]
[[Image:Fiskardo.jpeg|thumb|345px|right|Fiskardo is one of the island's most popular harbours<br />''Click for larger view]]
[[Image:MyrtosBay.jpg|thumb|345px|right|Myrtos Bay with Assos in background<br />''Click for larger view]][[Image:RobolaVineyards.jpg|thumb|345px|right|Kefalonia is famed for its Robola wines<br />''Click for larger view]]
[[Image:MyrtosBay.jpg|thumb|345px|right|Myrtos Bay with Assos in background<br />''Click for larger view]][[Image:RobolaVineyards.jpg|thumb|345px|right|Kefalonia is famed for its Robola wines<br />''Click for larger view]]
-
[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cephalonia Kefalonia] (Κεφαλλονιά) or Cephalonia or  Kephalonia is the largest of the Ionian islands. It is N of [[Zakinthos_(Zante)|Zakynthos]] and S of [[Lefkas]]. It is separated from the smaller island of [[Ithaca]] by a narrow channel. It is a beautiful island with many lovely beaches. It has an area of 688 km<sup>2</sup> and its highest point, Megalo Vouno (Large Mountain), is 1,626 metres above sea level.
+
[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cephalonia Kefalonia] (Κεφαλλονιά) or Cephalonia or  Kephalonia is the largest of the Ionian islands. For a history of the island, click on [[Kefalonia history]].  Lying eight miles N of [[Zakinthos_(Zante)|Zakynthos]] and six miles S of [[Lefkas]], it is separated from the smaller island of [[Ithaca]] on the E side by a narrow channel. Within a total area of 688 square kms it encompasses several mountain ranges, of which the highest, Mount Enos, is 1,626 metres above sea level. A beautiful island, Kefalonia boasts a number of lovely beaches around its coasts, including the spectacular Myrtos beach on  the NW coast. Inland, many of its slopes are covered with vineyards producing the Robola white and red wines for which the island is renowned. Kefalonia has a thriving tourist trade, boosted more recently by the success of the novel Captain Corelli’s Mandolin by Louis de Bernieres, which is based around the massacre of 3,000 Italian troops by Nazi forces on the island in 1943. Yachts cruising the island mostly tend to sail down the E coast, where there are sheltered harbours at [[Fiskardo]], [[Ayia Eufimia]], [[Sami]] and [[Poros]], or the more exposed W coast, where there is only one settled weather harbour at [[Assos]] before the harbours of [[Argostoli]] and [[Lixouri]] in the Gulf of Argostoli at the SW end of the island.
-
 
+
-
According to mythology the island was populated by [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pterelaos Pterelaos] and his followers. Pterelaos was the son of Tarios a son of [http://www.maicar.com/GML/Poseidon.html Poseidon]. But soon Pterelaos was defeated by the king of Thebes Amphitryon who gave the island to his friend [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cephalus Cephalus]. Cephalus had four sons: Kranios. Paleas, Pronnesos, and Samos. They divided the island to four city-states bearing their names. The island was most likely part of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Odysseus Odysseus] kingdom of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ithaca Ithaki].
+
-
 
+
-
The four city-states, Pale, Krane, Pronnos, and Same were independent and form many separate alliances with other Greek cities such as Athens and Corinth. According to [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Herodotus Herodotus] the Cephalonians stood with the Corinthians against the Persians in 474 BC. After this [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greco-Persian_Wars Persian war] the island fell under the Athenian alliance but at the end of the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peloponnesian_war Peloponnesian war] she allied with Sparta. But the Athenians invaded the island in 373 BC and held it until 226 BC. The island successfully repulsed the invasion of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philip_II_of_Macedon Philip the Macedon].
+
-
 
+
-
On the 2nd century AD Kephalonia was taken over by the Romans. During [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Byzantine Byzantine] times the island was major naval base and very active in protecting the empire from its many enemies. In 1508 the Norman pirate [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Guiscard Robert Guiscard] who was king of Sicily landed in the northern cove. He eventually died there and the cove was named after his Italian name Giskardo corrupted Greek as Fiskárdo. During the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crusades Crusades] the island fell under the Franks and after a treaty with the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Republic_of_Venice Venetians] in 1204 AD the island was governed by Matthew Orsini under the overlordship of Venice. In 1324 the Naples conquered the island. In 1357 the Neapolitans ceded the island to Leonardo Toko whose family governed the island until 1479 when it was conquered by the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ottomans Ottomans] but the Venetians after a bloody siege took it over in 1500 and held it until 1797.
+
-
 
+
-
In 1797 Kephalonia along the rest of the Ionian islands was taken over by the French who were received by the locals as liberators. They governed the island as a republic and established many schools. This period was short because in the 29th of October 1798 the combined Russian and Ottoman fleets invaded the region and in 1800 they established the State of the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seven_Islands_Republic Seven Islands]. This was also short lived and in 1807 the Ionian islands were back into French hands. But in 1809 the British defeated the French and now became the new lords of the region and established the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_of_the_Ionian_Islands United States of the Ionian Islands]. This lasted until 1864 when the Ionian islands became part of the new state of Modern Greece.
+
-
 
+
-
After the WW II defeat of Greece by the Germans, their Italian allies occupied the island. After the collapse of the Mussolini fascist regime the Italians surrendered to the allies and the Germans landed on the island.They rounded up the Italian division which until that time was occupying the island. They executed the lot, about 3,000 men with only very few escaping, helped by the locals. Every year on the anniversary of the massacre, the survivors and their families, accompanied by Italian and Greek dignitaries, come for a memorial service.This story is the basis of the fascinating novel ''Corelli's Mandolin'' by [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Louis_de_Bernières Louis de Bernières] and the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Captain_Corelli%27s_Mandolin_%28film%29 film] which was shot in Kephalonia.
+
-
 
+
-
On August 12, 1953 there was a devastating 6.5-7 earthquake on the Ionian. The main city of the island, Argostoli, was almost totally demolished. There were large scale destruction with only the town of Fiskardo spared.
+
-
 
+
-
The patron saint of Kephalonia is [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gerasimus_of_Kefalonia St. Gerasimos]. He is celebrated on October 20 and in August 15 in which day the islanders celebrate both the virgin Mary and one of St. Gerasimos' miracles. The following story was told to me (--[[User:Istioploos|Istioploos]]) my a local taxi driver:
+
-
 
+
-
''There once was a convent by the sea which was under attack by pirates. The nuns, afraid of being captured and ravished, prayed for deliverance to St. Gerasimos. Soon, a multitude of small, 10 -15 cm, snakes appeared on the monastery grounds. The pirates, who had landed in the mean time, were bitten and scared away by the snakes and the nuns were saved. From that day until today these small snakes appear for a few days around August 15, and they are considered sacred. If they fail to appear it is considered a terrible omen. Last time that they did not appear was 1953 which was followed by the earthquakes that practically demolished Argostoli and Lixouri, the largest towns on the island.''
+
<div style="clear: left;"></div>
<div style="clear: left;"></div>
Line 62: Line 46:
All approaches except for the approach to the Gulf of Argostoli and Lixouri are straightforward.  See individual port entries for details.
All approaches except for the approach to the Gulf of Argostoli and Lixouri are straightforward.  See individual port entries for details.
-
<font color="red">Danger:</font> The approaches to the Gulf of Argostoli from both E and W are full of dangers, and under no circumstances should you enter during the dark.
+
<font color="red">Danger:</font> The approaches to the Gulf of Argo
-
 
+
-
==Check-in facilities==
+
-
Customs in [[#Argostoli|Argostoli]].
+
-
 
+
-
==Berthing Options==
+
-
===Ports===
+
-
The principal ports in Kefalonia are listed in clockwise order round the island, starting from Fiskardo.
+
-
 
+
-
====Fiskardó====
+
-
See separate Wiki page for [[Fiskardo]].
+
-
 
+
-
====Ayia Eufimia====
+
-
See separate Wiki page for [[Ayia Eufimia]].
+
-
 
+
-
====Sami====
+
-
See separate Wiki page for [[Sami]].
+
-
 
+
-
====Poros====
+
-
Poros is a small harbor just N of Cape Mounda. It is reported to be an uncomfortable harbor.
+
-
 
+
-
====Pessades====
+
-
Pessades is tiny ferry harbor a few miles SE of Argostoli.
+
-
 
+
-
====Argostoli====
+
-
See separate Wiki page for [[Argostoli]].
+
-
 
+
-
====Lixoúri====
+
-
See separate Wiki page for [[Lixouri]].
+
-
 
+
-
====Assos====
+
-
See separate Wiki page for [[Assos]].
+
-
 
+
-
====Ayia Kyriaki====
+
-
Ayia Kyriaki or Ayia Kiriaki is a lovely small harbor in NW Kefalonia.
+
-
 
+
-
===Marinas & Yacht Clubs===
+
-
* '''Pelagha''' - A new marina is under construction at Pelagha and it is understood to be opening shortly (May '08). (''Please update here'')
+
-
 
+
-
===Anchorages===
+
-
====Coves S of Fiskardó====
+
-
These coves are all very fjord-like and very attractive surrounded by cypress trees. in the first cove S of Fiskardó there is a good restaurant on the road turn but it is hidden in the trees. The second cove to the S is my favorite.
+
-
 
+
-
In any case, you can anchor and take long stern lines to the rocks ashore. Even better, go deep into the cove and take a long bow line and a stern line to the rocks. The bottom is not always secure and there can be some surge.
+
-
 
+
-
=====Last Visited & Details Checked (and updated here)=====
+
-
''Date of member's visit to this Port/Stop & this page's details validated'':
+
-
* 1995 --[[User:Istioploos|Istioploos]] [[Image:Greece_Icon.png]]
+
-
* 2008 --[[User:telfordmike|telfordmike]] 22:47, 9 March 2009 (GMT)
+
-
*
+
-
 
+
-
====Kato Kastelos====
+
-
Kato Kastelos is a sheltered bay NW of Cape Mounda.
+
-
 
+
-
==Offshore Islands==
+
-
* [[Ithaca]]
+
-
* [[Meganisi]]
+
-
* [[Lefkas]]
+
-
 
+
-
==Yacht Services and Repairs==
+
-
====Marine Stores====
+
-
* In [[#Argostoli|Argostoli]]
+
-
*
+
-
 
+
-
====Repairs/Yards====
+
-
* There is a good mechanic in [[#Fiskardó|Fiskárdo]]. Ask Mr. Makis who runs the ''Philoxenia'' agency
+
-
*
+
-
 
+
-
====Fuel, Water, & Electricity====
+
-
; Fuel
+
-
: In [[#Argostoli|Argostoli]]  arrangements can be made for mini-tanker delivery of fuel
+
-
: In [[#Fiskardó|Fiskárdo]] arrangements can be made for mini-tanker delivery of fuel
+
-
: In [[#Ayia_Eufimía|Ayia Eufimia]] there is gas station on the S of the bay, a short walk.
+
-
; Water
+
-
: On the quay in [[#Argostoli|Argostoli]]
+
-
: On the quay in [[#Fiskardó|Fiskárdo]]
+
-
: On the quay in [[#Ayia_Eufimía|Ayia Eufimia]]
+
-
; Electricity
+
-
: N/A (Not Available)
+
-
 
+
-
==Things to do Ashore==
+
-
====Tourism====
+
-
=====Argostoli=====
+
-
In Argostoli you should visit the [http://odysseus.culture.gr/h/1/gh151.jsp?obj_id=3287 Archaeological Museum] which houses finds from the prehistoric to the Roman periods including a very beautiful 12 century BC Mycenaean [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kylix_%28drinking_cup%29 kylix]. Also, the [http://odysseus.culture.gr/h/1/gh151.jsp?obj_id=3415 Historical and Folkloric Museum] is well worth a visit.
+
-
 
+
-
=====Assos=====
+
-
The [http://www.kefaloniainfo.net/assos.php Venetian Castle], although not restored, makes a nice walk.
+
-
 
+
-
=====Drakaina Cave=====
+
-
This [http://www.kefaloniatravel.com/kefalonia_cephalonia_underground_lakes_caves.html cave] is near Poros. It has been used as a place of worship from the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neolithic Neolithic] to the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hellenistic Hellenistic] times.
+
-
 
+
-
=====The Castle of Ayios Georghios=====
+
-
The Castle of Ayios Georghios or Yiorgios (St. George) is a [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Byzantine Byzantine] castle which was later restored and used by the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Republic_of_Venice Venetian]s was the capital of the island until 1757. It is located near the village of Peratáta about 5 km N of Argostoli.
+
-
 
+
-
====Grocery & Supply Stores====
+
-
* Food groceries in [[#Argostoli|Argostoli]], [[#Fiskardó|Fiskárdo]], and [[#Ayia_Efimía|Ayia Efimia]]
+
-
* In [[#Ayia_Eufimía|Ayia Eufimia]] there is an excellent bakery
+
-
* Robola wines are sold all over the island and are of excellent quality.
+
-
 
+
-
====Eateries====
+
-
* Good restaurants in [[#Fiskardó|Fiskárdo]] - Lord Falcon (Thai / Greek) strongly recommended.
+
-
* Good restaurants in [[#Ayia_Eufimía|Ayia Eufimia]]
+
-
*
+
-
 
+
-
====Internet/WiFi====
+
-
In Internet cafés.
+
-
 
+
-
====Laundry====
+
-
* In [[#Ayia_Eufimía|Ayia Eufimia]] the hotel a few m S of the jetty in the middle of the bay does laundry.
+
-
*
+
-
 
+
-
====Motorbike & Car Rentals====
+
-
* In [[#Argostoli|Argostoli]], [[#Fiskardó|Fiskárdo]], and [[#Ayia_Eufimía|Ayia Eufimia]]
+
-
 
+
-
====Garbage Disposal====
+
-
There are bins around the harbors and in several anchorages.
+
-
 
+
-
====Transportation====
+
-
There are daily flights to Athens and ferries to the mainland and other Ionian islands.
+
-
 
+
-
==Routes/Passages To/From==
+
-
* [[Cruising the Greek Ionian Sea]]
+
-
 
+
-
==Cruiser's Friends==
+
-
Contact details of "Cruiser's Friends" that can be contacted for local information or assistance.
+
-
 
+
-
==Forum Discussions==
+
-
List links to discussion threads on [[Cruising Forums|partnering forums]]. (''see link for requirements'')
+
-
*
+
-
*
+
-
 
+
-
==External Links==
+
-
* [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cephalonia Cephalonia]] (Wikepedia)
+
-
* [http://www.kefaloniainfo.net/ Kefalonia Net]
+
-
* [http://www.kefaloniatravel.com/ Kefalonia Travel]
+
-
*
+
-
 
+
-
==References & Publications==
+
-
''See [[Ionian Sea#References_&_Publications|Ionian Sea]]''.
+
-
 
+
-
==Personal Notes==
+
-
Personal experiences?
+
-
*
+
-
 
+
-
====Last Visited & Details Checked (and updated here)====
+
-
''See individual [[#Ports|ports]], [[#Anchorages|anchorages]], and  [[#Offshore Islands|islands]] in this page''.
+
-
 
+
-
 
+
-
{{Guide2}}
+
-
 
+
-
 
+
-
<br />
+
-
{|id="mp-right" width="100%" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="1" style="vertical-align:top; background:#fff5ee; border:1px solid #fa8072;"
+
-
! <h2 id="mp-itn-h2" style="margin:0; background:#ffe4e1; font-size:120%; font-weight:bold; border:1px solid #fa8072; text-align:left; color:#000; padding:0.2em 0.4em;">[[image:SailorSmiley.gif]]Contributors to this page</h2>
+
-
|-
+
-
|style="color:#000;"|<small>
+
-
'''Names''': [[User:Istioploos|Istioploos]], [[User:Lighthouse|Lighthouse]], [[User:atheneoflymington|Athene of Lymington]], [[User:telfordmike|telfordmike]], [[User:Rodger|Rodger]], [[User:Monterey|Monterey]]
+
-
</small>
+
-
|}
+
-
 
+
-
<br />
+
-
{|id="mp-right" width="100%" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="1" style="vertical-align:top; background:#f5faff; border:1px solid #a3b0bf;"
+
-
! <h2 id="mp-itn-h2" style="margin:0; background:#cedff2; font-size:120%; font-weight:bold; border:1px solid #a3b0bf; text-align:left; color:#000; padding:0.2em 0.4em;">Cruising Wiki Navigation</h2>
+
-
|-
+
-
|style="color:#000;"| | [[World Cruising and Sailing Wiki|HOMEPAGE]] | [[World Cruising Guides|Wiki Contents]] | [[Mediterranean]] | [[Ionian Sea]] | [[Greece]] | [[Kefalonia]] |
+
-
|}
+
-
+
-
 
+
-
[[Category:Islands - Greece]] [[Category:Ports - Greece]] [[Category:Anchorages - Greece]]
+

Revision as of 05:53, 1 June 2013

Kefalonia (Port of Entry)

Small info.png (Click links for more information)
World icon.png
 38°11.2′N, 20°29.5′E
Photo icon.png
 Photo gallery
Chart icon.png
 Local chartlet
Cephalonia m.jpgMap of Kefalonia - Click for larger view

Contents

Fiskardo is one of the island's most popular harbours
Click for larger view
Myrtos Bay with Assos in background
Click for larger view
Kefalonia is famed for its Robola wines
Click for larger view

Kefalonia (Κεφαλλονιά) or Cephalonia or Kephalonia is the largest of the Ionian islands. For a history of the island, click on Kefalonia history. Lying eight miles N of Zakynthos and six miles S of Lefkas, it is separated from the smaller island of Ithaca on the E side by a narrow channel. Within a total area of 688 square kms it encompasses several mountain ranges, of which the highest, Mount Enos, is 1,626 metres above sea level. A beautiful island, Kefalonia boasts a number of lovely beaches around its coasts, including the spectacular Myrtos beach on the NW coast. Inland, many of its slopes are covered with vineyards producing the Robola white and red wines for which the island is renowned. Kefalonia has a thriving tourist trade, boosted more recently by the success of the novel Captain Corelli’s Mandolin by Louis de Bernieres, which is based around the massacre of 3,000 Italian troops by Nazi forces on the island in 1943. Yachts cruising the island mostly tend to sail down the E coast, where there are sheltered harbours at Fiskardo, Ayia Eufimia, Sami and Poros, or the more exposed W coast, where there is only one settled weather harbour at Assos before the harbours of Argostoli and Lixouri in the Gulf of Argostoli at the SW end of the island.

Charts

BA
203 Nisos Zakinthos to Nisos Paxoi
1557 Argostoli Port
Imray-Tetra
G12 Nísos Levkas to Nísos Zákinthos
NIMA
54280 Corfu Channel to Nisis Proti
Greek
2 Ionio Pelagos
30 Kefalonia, Ithaki

Radio Nets

  • Coast Guard - VHF channel 12
  • Olympia Radio - VHF channel 03

Also see World Cruiser's Nets.

Weather

Approach and Navigation

All approaches except for the approach to the Gulf of Argostoli and Lixouri are straightforward. See individual port entries for details.

Danger: The approaches to the Gulf of Argo

Retrieved from "http://www.cruiserswiki.org/wiki/Kefalonia"
Personal tools
advertisement
Friends of Cruisers Wiki